Hope Discovery for the Day:
Blaming another person for our pain will never help us feel better.
Scripture of the Day:
1 Peter 4:12-12
“Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.”
Romans 8:35-39
35″Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Suffering visits us all. There is no avoiding it and no route around it. Only the path through the door of pain will bring us to a place of healing.
We have all been around the person who has permitted bitterness to fill their souls over tragic circumstances or perhaps not getting what they want. Perhaps we have even been that person. Sometimes it seems reasonable. We ache for the deep sorrows that visit us all. To not deeply feel our pain would be inhumane. But there is a way to acknowledge our pain before our Creator that enables us to stand and to trust Him in the midst.
Like waves that beat the sand on the shore, life can beat us down. If we let it. When challenges arise, though, we all have a choice. What role will we play – the victim or the victor? Will we allow a hard heart to develop and try to punish others for our pain, or will we accept both blessings and hardship from God’s hands?
Choosing to be a victor does not mean you pretend all is well. Compassion is not null and void when we opt to avoid throwing ourselves a pity party. But when we face our pain and perhaps even the one who caused it and surrender it all to God, we rise a victor. Grace abounds when we choose not to focus on our perceived lack and instead delight in our God Who is sovereign over it all.
Still, sometimes in life other people can opt for the victim route and want to make us pay for their victimhood. This is an unhealthy relationship that we are wise to avoid. Receiving blame for someone’s pain won’t heal them. Only God can do that. Likewise, blaming another person for our pain will never help us feel better, either.
When the longing of our heart is not satisfied when our lives are crushed . . . even then, we are not defeated, for nothing can separate us from God.
Lord, thank You that we are more than victors through Your abundant grace! Help us to walk in Your victory and be a grateful people.
Awesome post, Denise! Just last night I was reflecting on how thankful I am that the book of Romans doesn’t end with chapter 7, but that the Lord gave us the promises of chapter 8 and beyond! There is, therefore NO condemnation…we are more than conquerors…and God works ALL things for good for those of us who live Him and are called to His purposes. Romans 12:1-9 ESV isn’t bad either when dealing with a difficult person or situation. Thanks for your words of encouragement from God’s word!
Thanks for your encouragement, Jeff! Me, too! Seeing God’s chosen man of God struggle with the same things we do gives us hope. God is not through with us yet!