A little over a week
ago one of our beloved cats disappeared without a trace, this makes the second
cat in a month to vanish. Cats don’t get lost, run over maybe, but not lost.
What added to my anguish and confusion was that on the spur of the moment the night
before I had prayed specifically for his safety and protection.
For people who have
never had a cat it’s hard to imagine the trauma of losing one let alone the
torment when you don’t know what happened. Most people will tell you they would
rather find out their beloved feline met their demise with a motor vehicle than
to be left wondering. Even in hind sight it can seem trivial but that is only
because of Gods amazing grace, because in the week following Oreo’s
disappearance I was distraught to be honest, from his sudden
disappearance, my confusion about God allowing it, and the belief that my
cats have gone missing at the hand of a neighbor; a neighbor to whom I must be
as Christ. Suffering…… something’s are sent by
God, but even what isn't, is used by God.
We forget
sometimes we are possessors of nothing and stewards of everything, even
the gifts God gives us. He graciously reminded me that He was Oreo’s creator
and could take care of him quite well, thank you. I had to come to realize that
even if Oreo had been taken and dumped in the middle of nowhere I was not
anyone to question Him about it. I was reminded of Job, not because of his
suffering (nothing I’ve been through ever could compare to his suffering) but
because the Lord addresses Job as ‘one who darkens His counsel with words
without knowledge’, how well I could relate, because that is where I was living
for several days.
God
understands how hard it can be in the midst of suffering to continue to do good,
especially if you believe that someone else is responsible for the suffering. But
I can tell you without a doubt God’s grace is sufficient for His strength is made perfect in weakness. There are times in our life when we will suffer
on account of God’s will. Suffering not only
because of what we are experiencing, but going through it the way we as
believers in Christ are commanded in scripture to respond.
1 Peter 4:12 Think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you as some strange thing happened to you; but
rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when his
glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
So no only are we to
not think it strange, but we are to rejoice! Seriously? I mean after all I am a
believer, doesn’t that make me immune to certain types of suffering? The truth
is, no it does not make us immune, however as believers how we go through
suffering can and should be different.
One thing I have come
to realize over the years is, if we as believers never suffer anything how are
unbelievers ever going to know just how incredible God’s grace is? We sometimes
forget that grace encompasses everything about our life, not just getting
saved. Grace is God’s divine ability to do that which would
otherwise be impossible. God requires some hard things of us, but He also gives
us the ability to do what He requires. How awesome is that! If we are going to be a strange sight
to draw the attention of those who don’t yet know Him, then we will be as the
bush on fire in the desert that drew Moses aside. The bush was on fire
yet not consumed. God's primary goal for our life is to conform us to the image
of Christ. Remembering that helps change my perspective about suffering.
OR 
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