"So
suffering is like a sand blasting machine that strips away my fear,
anxiety self-centeredness complaining and "I don't care" attitude
toward others who hurt. "
Our
family just moved from North Carolina to Macon, Georgia. We loved
college (My husband and I met in Macon and that's where we went to
college.) but we never thought we'd be back
here but God had different plans:)! God has given us abundantly more
than we could ever ask for and I will write about the details soon! It
has been wonderful to be back but very different from college! I mean
college was almost 20 years ago! Macon has changed
and we have changed.
It is our first "real" house that we're hopefully
staying for a long time! It's so fun and I'm grateful to have a house
where I don't run into the walls:)! However it is been hard to sit in a
chair while others put my house together. My
family has never made me feel that way and they always ask me where I
would like things but it is hard not to feel inadequate. I know that my
feelings are a lie from Satan but I still struggle! I want to be able to
arrange my kitchen or put pictures in the
family room!
Our
sufffering exposes our sin and our desperate need for Christ. I become
so defensive because I want to do it in my own house but I cannot. I
focus on my suffering and become bitter instead of focusing on how every
detail of
the house is being provided. Instead of being thankful for the people
who took their time to make this house a home. It is hard and trust me
at times I know that I'm no peach to be around:).
I have heard before
the places around your house remind you of all
of God's provisions. I am reminded to pray for that person and be
thankful for the way they provided in my life. For example my
father-in-law put up our lights so when I look at my really cool light
in the family room (it is super cool and I really love it:))
He also did so many things that it is hard to mention all that he did
around our house!!! I am reminded of my father-in-law and his love for
our family. I am reminded to pray for him. My mother-in-law put the
kiddos rooms together and their bathroom. She arranged
our pictures in the family room for me . My mom arranged our kitchen
and we have a lot of kitchen stuff!! She unpacked our china and arranged
our china cabinet . My dad unpacked and arranged the kid's playroom and
unpacked many of the boxes outside. We had
a sweet friend from my parents church who helped my father-in-law put
the beds together and much, much more ! We had a another sweet friend
from our church who put much of my daughters room together.
I
could waste this! I could focus on the fact that it's my house and I
want to put things together or I could be grateful for God's provision
and my family and friends willingness
to put our house together.
I am in desperate need of Christ
every hour, well really every second to remind me of the
privilege this suffering is and my opportunity to trust him and show him
at work in my life. My prayer for you is that you don't waste the
suffering in your life and trust him in the midst of the
struggle to use it for good!!
