Pains

[P.S.] Never humble enough to keep quiet and to NOT write a blogpost about such things. I guess I will keep growing in that area -- more of Christ and less of people. More like Christ who did not open His mouth when He was wronged in every way imaginable.

We know that everyone bears different kinds of cross, but it always seems like mine is the biggest one, no?

But that is so arrogant of me to say. Thanks be to God through His Son Jesus Christ for His indescribable gift! Even as I experience what seems to be soul-tearing trials in this life, I remember my Savior and my God, who took up every truly grievous thing, every living excrement of human souls upon His Holy Self -- as angels wept and the Father's eyes turned brown with rot.

So I smack myself across the head with these words:

"And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed." (Heb 12:5-13)

As I am tempted to wallow in despair and sorrows for extended periods of time, I want to remember our Lord and Savior, who rescued me from darker pits of eternal death and said thus: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).

He also promises me an undeserving crown and reassures with His abiding faithfulness:

"It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim 2:11-13)

So I will wait for the Lord, and in His Word I do hope. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.

To Him be the glory forever.

Amen.