Disobedience: A Sure Way to Suffer

On October 31^st, 2015, a Russian plane (Flight 9268) crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula killing all 224 people aboard. In this case, the tragic consequences were not of their own doing. But, this current news item reminded me of a time when the people of Judah chose consequences rather than repenting of their sin. The people’s continual disobedience led to the destruction of Jerusalem and their eventual exile into Egypt where God punished them with war, hunger, and disease. By not listening to God, only a very few survivors came back to live in Judah. (Jeremiah 44:11-14). But, I am getting ahead of myself. Let's start.

Khufu Pyramid, Egypt
Public Domain: Library of Congress

God is fair. He loves everyone and does not want any harm or affliction to come upon them (2 Peter 3:9). However, God wants his creation to love him in return (1 John 5:3). Many nations have disregarded God’s love and His desire to bless them. And when nations or people reject the Lord and His commandments, suffering comes upon them (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Before Jeremiah, the Northern Kingdom which consisted of 10 tribes was destroyed by the Assyrians. Thus Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom of Judah which consisted of the two remaining tribes. Jeremiah was present when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 586 BC. Jeremiah states over and over again that without people repenting and turning to God, consequences will befall them.

During the time of Jeremiah’s unpopular message, the people and leaders were actively participating in many sinful behaviors such as idol worship, sacrificing their own children to the gods, stealing, adultery, and more. The people had two choices they could have pursued – To be obedient to God and receive his blessings or continue in their sin and await judgment. They were totally steeped in sin and they decided to remain in it. Jeremiah comes upon this scene, and for almost 50 years, he pursues his calling to warn the people that if they did not turn to God and worship Him that God would judge them. And, for all those years, he saw very limited, almost non-existent, change in their lives.

Jeremiah was treated horribly during his ministry.

The people did not listen to him. (Jeremiah 7:25)

They wanted to kill him. (Jeremiah 11:19, 21-23)

He was beaten. (Jeremiah 20:2)

He was put into the king’s prison. (Jeremiah 32:1-5)

He was put into a muddy cistern and left to starve to death. (Jeremiah 38:6-10)

However, being encouraged by the Lord throughout the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah continued his call to preach the message with sadness and tears; thus, his name “the weeping prophet.”

God had sent many prophets to the people of Judah calling for their repentance and he had given them grace over and over. But, God had finally had enough.

He even asks Jeremiah to stop praying for the people. When I first read this many years ago in the Bible, I was shocked to hear that God actually told someone to stop praying for people. But, it is in the Bible.

“As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.” (Jeremiah 7:16)

“Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.” (Jeremiah 11: 14)

“The LORD said to me: ‘Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.’” (Jeremiah 14:11-12)

Sounds like God had enough of their sinful behavior, doesn’t it? In this case, it seems that prayer was delaying the judgment and God was ready to act. It is interesting to note that God did not tell Jeremiah to stop preaching the message of repentance. God was ready to judge!

Darkness of Sin
Lion Sands Safari, South Africa

At this interval, God is ready to judge sin. This happens in our lives too. God gives us chance after chance to repent. But, at some point, he says, “Enough is enough.” And, that is a scary place to be.

God decided to use the Babylonians to punish their sin and assign consequences to their behavior. The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple in 586 BC. At this point, the people of Judah, who are living in the midst of the destruction, ask Jeremiah to ask the Lord if they should leave and go to Egypt or stay in Jerusalem. The people promised they would obey God whether God says to go or stay. Jeremiah did not respond right away. He prayed for 10 days. Finally, he told the people what he heard from God.

Jeremiah 42: 7-18 states:

“At the end of ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. Then he summoned Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea for mercy before him: If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land. But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the Lord your God and saying, ‘No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war or hear the sound of the trumpet or be hungry for bread, and we will dwell there,’ then hear the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there, then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die. All the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. They shall have no remnant or survivor from the disaster that I will bring upon them.”

And, after all this, it is amazing what the people said. The insolent men said to Jeremiah, ”You are telling a lie. The LORD our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there.’” (Jeremiah 43:2) This reminds me of the time my youngest son kept asking me if Santa Claus was real. I kept saying, "Do you really want to know." He said, "Yes!" This continual bantering went back and forth until I finally decided to tell him Santa Claus wasn't real. His immediate response was, "I don't believe you!" Sometimes people just believe what they want to believe and there is nothing you can do about it. The people of Judah chose not to obey the voice of God and they went to Egypt. Jeremiah was also forced to go to Egypt even though it was against God’s desire. The consequence for the people’s disobedience was again judgment from God as promised in the form of destruction of their homeland and their chosen exile to Egypt. But, let’s remember that God’s real desire for his people was to be obedient so he could shower them with blessings — not suffering and trials.

How is this story relevant for us today? This story talks about the nation of Judah. However, if we continue in our disobedience after many warnings and exhortations, we can end up in a very dangerous situation suffering the terrible consequences of sin. In the midst of sin, we are losing his blessings and our relationship with him. God may wait many years for our repentance while we live lives of deceit, immorality, drunkenness, corruption, dishonesty, and lies. Let’s not let that happen. Allow God to rule your life NOW. Return to the Lord today and/or accept His love and acceptance by confessing your sins, and asking Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior.

While the passengers on Flight 9268 were unaware of their ultimate and unfortunate demise, we are given the opportunity to change our lives and choose to live in God’s blessings. Let’s act today.

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Blessings,

Patti Greene

Bible Verses:

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. The LORD will send you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. Deuteronomy 28:15-20

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, let me recognize the times you are drawing me back to you. Let me understand that you want my total obedience — not just my appearances in church or my good works. Let me hear deeper truths from you. Allow your presence to permeate my life. Lord, lead this nation to walk in your presence. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

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Compromising

We live in an age where compromise is all around us. Compromises are made daily in the areas of values, morals, ethics, relationships, and belief systems. Compromising in areas God has warned us about can, and most often does, lead to disastrous consequences in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:21
Cape Town, South Africa; Copyright: GreeneFamily

 

In The Danger of Compromise, Pastor Greg Laurie says, “Have you ever heard the story of the guy who could not decide what side he wanted to fight for during the Civil War? He put on the coat of the North and the trousers of the South, and guess what? He got shot from both sides. This is what happens to the compromiser, the person who tries to live in two worlds. It is one miserable life.”

Bernie Madoff, founder of the Wall Street firm Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was convicted of fraud and of operating a Ponzi scheme that is well-known as one of the largest investment scandals in the history of the United States. He defrauded many investors of billions of dollars. Madoff was convicted and sentenced to 150 years in prison. His small compromises, which eventually became huge compromises, led to investors losing their entire life-time savings. But on a personal level, the consequences were even higher. His wife left him. His son Andrew died of cancer while blaming his cancer relapse on the stress caused by his father’s fraud. His other son, Mark, committed suicide by hanging himself on the second anniversary of his father’s arrest. Madoff lives with the regret that both sons never forgave him for his corruption. We would be wise to recognize that our compromises/sin will always affect other people – even our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

It is imperative that we be attentive to the Lord in all areas of our lives and strive to be consistent and mature in our actions. We can see in the Bible how some believers led impeccable lives and were devoted to God until small compromises/sin affected the life that God intended for them to have.

Solomon was a righteous and Godly King until his later years when corruption overtook him. Solomon even asked God for wisdom above worldly possessions. He went from fully trusting God for his life and kingdom to worshipping idols in the form of wealth and power in his latter days. Notice that Solomon continued worshipping God while loving many foreign Gods and burning incense to paganism. This led to God’s anger against him. Solomon is known today as the godly king who compromised. He did not keep God’s commandments and the Bible states that Solomon did turn away from the Lord.

In 1 Kings 11:1-13, the Bible says:
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen. And the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite.”

If compromising can affect Solomon, a king who was originally so devoted to God, it can happen to us also. Even good Christians can compromise. Usually it occurs very subtly. We get wrapped up and ensnared - unaware until our compromising goes from a little compromising to continual compromising. However, it can be avoided by being attentive to the Lord in all areas of life. By daily giving Him our lives, we can avoid compromising/sinning. This is where daily praying and daily Bible reading come into play. But, we aren’t perfect. Jesus knows that, so when we do find ourselves in little lies or little compromises, we need to ask for forgiveness and for help to change our ways immediately.

Our friendship with the world can take the form of materialism, popularity, sex, and more. Compromising can affect our marriage, our spiritual life, our relationships with our children, and our business relationships. Unfortunately, we are sometimes the recipient of someone else’s compromises. Even then, we need move forward structuring our life around God and His provisions for us. He will rescue us and sustain us during these times.

Materialism
Dubai, UAE
Copyright: GreeneFamily

 

In the Old Testament, Daniel, and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are examples of those whose strong beliefs did not allow compromise in their lives. They refused to bow down to the gold statue set up by Nebuchadnezzar even with the threat of being thrown into a fiery furnace. [Daniel 3:1-15] They trusted in the God who was sufficient for all their needs and a God who rescued them.

Let’s ask for God’s help this week to be believers that walk in Biblical standards. Let’s not be believers who only want to get into Heaven and be thought of as good people. Let’s truly get our relationship with Christ on solid ground, so we can live daily in His presence trusting that God will help us when we are weak.

Bible Verses:

Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

Jeremiah 6:16 ESV

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

Prayer:

Lord, give us power to praise and love you always – to the end of our days. When we compromise, show us immediately, so we can get back on track quickly. Prevent us from causing damage to others through our actions. Help us not to damage our Christian witness through our actions. Let us walk with you daily through our prayers and Bible study. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Patti

• Books by Patti Londa Greene: Awaken Me: a devotional prayer journal and God, and God, It’s Me: 181 Days for Young Adults to Become Passionate about Prayer and Bible Study
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Shoes, Sin, and Savior

My excitement began when I put on my brand new pair of silver high-heeled shoes! While I don’t have an obsession with shoes, most women [like me] feel pretty confident slipping their feet into a new pair of sandals, wedges, boots, flats, heels, or tennis shoes. I am no exception.

Yesterday, I was “pumped” gracing my feet in this new pair of shoes for their first time. My shoes and I were going out-on-the-town for the first time to Sax Fifth Avenue in Houston’s Galleria to enjoy lunch with my good friend Dorothy. I stepped out of the house with my serotonin level bouncing high!
   

My New Shoe from T.J. Maxx



As I pulled out of my driveway, I noticed my garbage man (okay, sanitation worker) had come, and I needed to bring the garbage can to the back of the house. I exited my car and dragged the garbage can to its resting place. But then the unthinkable happened. I was heading back to my car and I stumbled on the front of my right shoe. Right then and there, I experienced grief, regret, and discouragement all at the same time. Nothing affects a girl’s mood more than getting a tear in a brand new pair of shoes tear the first time they wear them.

But, I continued to the Galleria with the express thought that I would stop at the shoe repair store on my way home and see if the cobbler could somehow prevent my shoe from tearing more. On the drive to the Galleria, my tiny tear somehow became a BIG rip in my mind. When I walked into the Galleria, I was so conscious of the tear in my shoe that my mind even thought, "The Galleria is so fancy that no one should be wearing a torn shoe here." Crazy, right!

After a lovely lunch with my friend, I decided to drive directly to the cobbler to fix this problem before it got out of hand. In my mind, the cobbler had all of a sudden become elevated to having a doctorate degree in 'Shoe Repair.' If anyone could fix my shoe, he could!

I arrived at the shoe repair shop, parked my car in the parking lot, and began pondering and contemplating whether I should go in or not. I finally decided that I was putting way too much emphasis on my new pair of shoes. To make a long story short, I decided not to spend $10.00+/- to get a small tear fixed when my shoes only cost $39.00. I drove home without entering the hallowed doors of my savior –THE COBBLER.

So, why am I compelled to tell my shoe story? It is because all through the day my mind was drifting to find a spiritual meaning to this event. For now though, let’s pretend the small TEAR in my shoe is SIN and the COBBLER is THE LORD.

Just like the cobbler wants to fix our shoes, God wants to fix us. When you and I first sin, we would be wise to go to the Lord immediately to get our sins forgiven and deal with it before we sin more. We all sin, but do we always turn to the Lord after one little bitty sin? Sometimes we do, but other times, we wait until our sins mount. The longer we wait to go to the expert, the problems and consequences of our sins (our tears) get bigger and bigger.

Take the prodigal son. He went off with his inheritance. Excited about his new adventure, he squandered his wealth and became involved in ungodly behavior. He enjoyed himself until one day, he found himself eating with the pigs. His sins accumulated, but finally he decided he had it better at home and he returned to his father. And, the good news is his father accepted him. It would have been best if the 'prodigal son' never left home and sinned, but he did.

Sometimes however, we  try to avoid our Father. When avoiding Him, He will be constantly pursuing us to come to Him or to come back to Him. When we postpone or reject God, our situation and consequences usually get worse. The longer we wait the harder it becomes, but remember that God continues to pursue us until the days of pursuing are over.

Whether we have been involved in a crime; had an abortion; deceived our spouse, or other actions, God still loves us. He cares about us, and He will continue to put spiritual people, spiritual literature, spiritual songs, and more in our pathway as he convicts us to return to Him. Our Heavenly Father sees the small tears (sins) in our life, and He wants to fix them as soon as possible before they turns into large tears that come with more dire consequences.

By deciding not to go to the cobbler, I didn’t get the small tear in my shoe fixed. But, it’s just a shoe!!!

 

The Village Cobbler / Town and Country, Houston, Texas

 

Our lives are more important than a shoe. God is there to heal all the small tears and big tears in our lives. When we turn to Him, we experience true freedom and well-being. Actually, it can mean the difference between heaven and hell. Wherever you are in your spiritual walk, choose God. Don’t wait. He loves and cares for all of us.

Make God the Master Cobbler in your life. Today!

Bible Verses:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

But if we keep living in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 NIV

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:11-24 ESV

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, Thank you for being with me today. Lord, show me my sins – even those little ones that I barely notice. I confess both the small sins and the big sins to you right now. Let me quickly recognize when I hurt others. Lord, you are better than a cobbler who is limited to their expertise. You can fix everything. I ask you to fix me and forgive me for where I have failed you. And trust you as my personal Lord and Savior. Amen.



 

 

I hope you enjoyed my blog today, but I’ve got to run. I saw these really cute pair of red strappy sandals . . .

Patti

And don’t forget COMMENTS are always welcome!

Books by Patti Londa Greene: Awaken Me: a devotional prayer journal and God, and God, It’s Me: 181 Days for Young Adults to Become Passionate about Prayer and Bible Study

Accidents

Tony Evans tells the story about the cowboy who applied for health insurance. The agent routinely asked him, “Have you ever had any accidents?” The cowboy replied, “Well, no, I’ve not had any accidents. I was bitten by a rattlesnake once, and a horse did kick me in the ribs. That laid me up for a while, but I haven’t had any accidents.” The agent said, “Wait a minute. I’m confused. A rattlesnake bit you, and a horse kicked you. Weren’t those accidents?” “No, they did that on purpose.” Now that makes us laugh, but honestly accidents do happen.

There is a difference between accidents, mistakes, and sin. Accidents happen unexpectedly and unintentionally. Mistakes usually occur by judgment errors, misinterpretations, or by not paying attention to details. Sin occurs when we disobey the moral and Biblical instructions put forth in the Holy Bible.
 



Bicycle racks in front of Den Haag Central Station, The Hague, The Netherlands

Sometimes accidents kill. If you are reading this blog and you have experienced that type of accident with someone you know and love, I am so sorry. Three weeks ago my nephew’s good friend Adam was hit by a car when the driver failed to yield to the motorcycle he was on - killing him. My nephew was speechless that something like that could have been so easily preventable. We just don’t have the words for it.

But, today we are going to look at suffering and pain from the viewpoint of accidents, i.e. running into a concrete wall during basketball practice, being hit by lightning, electrical accidents. We are going to look at accidents that fortunately are not unto death. We must first understand that accidents do happen! They can happen because of risky behavior or they can happen without warning - with or without any ability on our part to avoid them. While we or a loved one may be in unrelenting or searing pain, the results are left in God’s hands. We know this because Jeremiah says, "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcomes." 

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we will be free from accidents. Mistakes and sins we can avoid, but not accidents. Sometimes accidents can’t be explained. Other times they are for a purpose - to test our faith – to keep us from evil – to increase our character - to help someone else in their faith walk.

A few years ago The Bama Group Research did a survey asking people what they would like to ask God. The number one question was that people wanted to ask God is “Why He allows pain and suffering in this world.” People usually ask that question when they are in the midst of a crisis situation or they are philosophically looking for an answer to the question. Either way, the question is asked frequently.

As a believer, when you are encountering pain and suffering due to an accident, how should you react to it?

-       Start by having others pray for you. You may need to have a family member or friend contact believers to pray for you. [You may or may not be in any condition yourself to be praying at this point and that is okay.] Having others pray for you is importance for two reasons. Others are encouraged to enter a season of prayer, which they may or may not have been utilizing in their Christian walk. And secondly, God hears the healing prayers of the righteous.  On a practical note, I love the phrase I have heard by Aaron Armstrong in Blogging Theologically. He says, “If any among you are sick, pray and get them to a doctor.”

-       Recognize that Jesus understands our pain, because he suffered himself.

-       Thank God for the strength to keep going – hour by hour, day by day, week by week, or month by month.

-       Don’t blame God for your accident. Accidents happen unexpectedly through tragedies, disasters, and untimely incidents.

-       Work hard NOT to become like King Ahaz in the Old Testament whose distress made him become more unfaithful the Lord. (2 Chronicles 28:22)

-       Recognize that God allows everything for his glory.

During and after a time of pain and suffering, many have said they have become more confident in their walk with the Lord and they feel a deeper compassion towards people. When explaining the Godly results of suffering, Mary J. Yerkes states it best in her article When We Suffer: A Biblical Perspective on Chronic Pain and Illness. Yerkes states:

- Suffering produces intimacy with God (Job 42:5)

- Suffering equips us to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

- Suffering refines us. (Isaiah 48:10)

- Suffering produces growth and maturity (James 1:2-4)

- Suffering conforms us into God's image (Romans 8:28-29)

 

 

Brovono Hospital, The Hague, Netherlands

Let’s all try to look at accidents in this way from now on. As I mentioned accidents will happen. Your child may fall off a balance beam and break their arm; you may swallow some money; or you may flip your bike doing wheelies. Whatever it is, let’s remember that God knows what has happened and He is there to get you through your pain, and to show you His intended purposes.

God bless you.
Patti Greene

Bible Verses:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18 ESV

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:9-10 ESV

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5 ESV

 

Quotations:

As I look back over fifty years of ministry, I recall innumerable tests, trials and times of crushing pain. But through it all, the Lord has proven faithful, loving, and totally true to all his promises. 

David Wilkerson

I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God. 

Elizabeth Elliot

God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, [n]or circumstances, [n]or any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (See Romans 8:28-29). 

Jerry Bridges

Prayer:

Dear Lord, Give refuge and strength to me (or a loved one) as I (she/he) have encountered a difficult blow leading to tremendous pain and suffering. You alone are my fortress and my rock. Be my comfort. Let me see light soon. Heal me. Show me the purpose in my suffering. When I am healed, let me be used by YOU in a new and mighty way. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

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Books by Patti Londa Greene

Awaken Me: a devotional prayer journal

God, It’s Me: 181 Days for Young Adults to Become Passionate about Prayer and Bible Study