I Am A Child Of God

        I know I am a wife, mom, grandmother, friend, student, quilter, writer and along with what seems like twenty other hats I wear.  I have no problem identifying my very human characteristics which define me.  Yet to say, “I am a child of God” seems surreal.  It is something so profound when I say it, it doesn’t seem possible.

There are scriptures which I’ve tried to memorize which validates this truth, because long ago I did accept Christ as my Savior.  It’s something I’ve believed for as long as I can remember, yet the idea that God calls me as one of his, and specifically His child is amazing.  

I reflect on my human parents.  My mom took care of me as an infant and my dad was wonderful in situations where my mom wasn’t strong.  My siblings and I were close, while we were children and I’m grateful.  It isn’t much different with my Heavenly Father.  God absolutely takes care of me, Jesus gave his life, so that could become truth for me.  The Holy Spirit is also always close by for comfort and direction.  Each one of the Trinity ‘grows' me like my earthly family.  And add to this my ‘church family’ and other Believers, I have a huge family on whom to rely and take counsel from, should I need it---and ask for it!

Once this reality totally sinks in, I can acknowledge God cares about my tears, my questions and frustrations.  He finds joy in my successes and will reprimand me when I sin, through conviction.  His gentle arms surround me when I need a hug and his heart breaks when mine does.  He knows my weaknesses and my strengths; and knows how to use my flaws for his good.  He cares about the little things just as much as he cares about the big ones.  

He teaches me through his word, through experiences, and other Believers.  He not only cares about my questions, but will lead me to the answer if I’m willing to look for it.  God cares about our heartbreaks, economic status, death, diseases, sin, and yes, even me.

Even knowing all this, as I face days that seem overwhelming in their struggles, I cower.  I want to just hide.  How self-centered of me!  I should instead be standing strong and face my struggles like Paul did when he was imprisoned.  He would sing!  I often can’t sing when I’m sad!  Songs seem to accentuate the element or level of my despondency and discouragement. 

Still, when I physically pick up His Word or cry out to him, I am overcome with a calmness that is almost palpable yet indescribable.  I feel washed in His Stillness.  Then I am able to rest, physically and emotionally; and perhaps more than that, I'm able to accept all the spiritual rest that His comfort brings.

As humans, we sometimes find it difficult to rely on the comfort of a God we cannot see with our eyes.  Yet, when we look around at all his provisions every day, even moment by moment we can accept this truth for what it is.  We are a family and I am a child of God.  One day I will be with him in Paradise.

Photo Credit: I am a child of God

Growth In Suffering

        No one likes to suffer. Yet we are all, at some point in our lives, suffering.  There is death of loved ones, illnesses of family or friends, financial problems, broken relationships, physical deformities or mental illness, abuse, and a long list of other ways a person can experience pain and hardship.

David, the author of Psalms was not a stranger to grief, pain and despair.  He was hunted by Saul, made huge human mistakes and paid the consequences of his sin, which included losing a son, and so much more.  Job was tested by God and lost everything!  And even Jesus was no stranger to temptation, pain, agony and suffering. 

He [Jesus] came in human form so he could experience fully what we do as humans.  This act of obedience was painful from a human perspective, but even more so when you consider the price he paid on a cruel cross for the redemption of the human race!

As we experience pain and deal with the burdens of life, very often we learn who we are, what we’re “made of,” perhaps what we want out of life and what is important.  It’s what we do with what we learn, that can turn the tide for someone else.  Our suffering can be a place where we learn not only sympathy for someone going through a similar trial, but empathy.  God can use our burdens to bring others, who may not know him, to come to a place where they recognize their need for him.

We are able to give comfort, where otherwise, we probably would not have known how to respond.   In some crisis situations, very often we tend to consider who we are taking care of, and forget to take care of ourselves.  This compounds our misery.  We lose sleep, sometimes weight, due to our lack of focus on self-care.  We then, like those we are tending, become ill, even if differently. Our ‘agony’ overrides good sense if we don’t do something about it.

I have a friend who has dealt with a husband who had PTSD for years.  He finally went to counseling and has medication to deal with his illness.  She on the other hand, has never seen a counselor for her own emotional upheaval for all those years.  I learned recently, after visiting the doctor for another reason, she is finally going to see a counselor.  This doctor saw something that triggered red flags, and asked the right questions..  

She needs to work through her feelings, and God will likely use this!   Yet, for all this person’s grief and suffering, she holds fast to a God who carries her when she can no longer walk!  He holds her in the palm of his hand, and that is so reassuring; not just for her but all of us!  

God says he is strong in our weakness.  I see myself as weak.  I’m outgoing, yet find myself filled with anxiety and fearful, when life is filled with mayhem.  We should all be holding fast to the Father, so that when life spirals out of control, sending us to the depths of despair, we can be like Jesus and say, ‘Not my will, but yours, Lord.’  That’s where I want to be.  

Photo Credit:  Suffering