Abundant Love That Leads To Afflictions

"The greater are our affections the deeper are our afflictions, and the more we love the more we have to weep."
                                                           J.C. Ryle




None of us are immune to the pain and suffering in this world. In fact, the more deeply we experience life emotionally, the more afflictions will surface throughout our life's journey. We never realize this truth more poignantly than when we bury a loved one. This has been my journey over the past few months as my terminally ill Mom experienced the phases of dying and then ultimately went home to be with the Lord.

It is so interesting to me how we are wired as people to learn the most important truths in the valley of suffering. Perhaps this is because we are more desperate during these times to find meaning in deeper and more significant ways. Or, perhaps, when our hearts are shattered the most, we lay down our defenses and are more open to receiving whatever it is that God has for us in this place. I think this is how our tears mingle with joy in the most unexpected ways and we begin to learn that pain is not something to be avoided, but, rather, an experience to embrace, especially when our Savior is right there in the midst of it.

This whole past year has provided many opportunities in my life to unravel the mystery of just how God allows sorrow to shape us for the destiny He has prepared for us. It appears to us in many shapes and forms and somehow is uniquely designed with specificity for our individual lives. Within the shadow of sorrow lies a sequence of events that propel us to face our greatest fears and ultimately make the decision of whether we will trust God fully with every crevice in our hearts and minds or whether we will allow fear, bitterness, and disappointment to drive the train of our existence.

My Mom modeled this very well to me. About seven years ago, at the beginning of Mom's diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (excess fluid on the brain), Mom received a prophecy that God was going to heal her of her disease. From that point forward, everyday she believed that this was the day that God would heal her body. This continued day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year. She never stopped believing. And, from my perspective, she could not have left a better or more meaningful legacy than this.

As Mom's body continued to give way to the physical limitations of her disease, she continued to boldly proclaim that God was going to heal her. There were many people and physicians that doubted her statements, but she never did. And, in the end, when our family got hospice involved in her care, she then realized that God was going to heal her by bringing her home eternally. While God's methodology differed from what Mom initially believed would happen, she receive the grace that God had apportioned for her and slipped away peacefully in Jesus' loving arms.

At first glance, it could be perceived that the prophecy she received had not been fulfilled. But, if we look deeper than the surface, we realize that God actually answered her prayers in far greater measures than she was even expecting. While the truest blessings may appear in disguise, I'm sure if I were able to ask her today if she would rather be healed and on this earth or healed in the presence of the Lord that she would hands-down choose the latter. I'm sure she would not trade the gift that God gave to her for anything in this world.

When we see life through the lens of faith, we realize that God's plans are always greater than our own. Undoubtedly, we all have moments when things do not make sense to us in the natural, but if we persevere, we will one day see things through God's perspective and align our vision for life with His. And His plans are far better than anything we could ever conceive.

For me, 2019 was one of the most difficult years of my life, but it was also one of the most beautiful years of my life. I was privileged to see beauty in things that no one on this planet would define as beautiful. I got to stand in the gap observing the most sacred of places in my Mom's life. As I stood on the precipice between life and death and life, I got to catch a glimpse of heaven like I have never seen it before. And I know with certainty that it is far more glorious than anything our English vocabulary could ever describe.

Many people I know have had a very difficult year in 2019. There are a lot of people who have more questions than answers on things that have happened in their lives. If you are one of these, may I just say to you that it is because you love deeply that you have been afflicted. Do not let this be a deterrent to you to continue to love deeply. For it is in the depth of this love that you will experience the love of Christ like you never have before. He will meet you in the sacred place of your pain and that is a joy that is incomparable to anything we can experience in the natural realm.

This then gives us the confidence of really knowing the heart of God for us and the ability and willingness to then share that same love of God with others. As the days on planet earth continue to escalate in intensity, may we never lose our faith our our love for others. These are the true gifts that we are created to share and give to others.

                                May God Abundantly Bless This New Year!!!