Today, as a body of women, let’s meditate on and memorize God’s word. Not for our own glory or honor, but for the joy of our Father and the growth of His Truth in our hearts.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Romans 5:3-4 ESV
This so resonates with me. The past few years God has whispered "trust" to me as I walk through my life. I want to know the 5 and 10 and 20 year plans…but He whispers "trust." When life has been hard and I've doubted every choice I've made…He whispers "trust". When my work has so frustrated me I want to throw things around and scream…He whispers "trust."
Now out from that particular season, I look back on the suffering and see an unimaginably beautiful tapestry woven through my life, complete with beautiful dark patches of pain that makes the beautiful light weaving look that much brighter. In trust, I held close to my God through my suffering and the suffering has been a blessing beyond measure.
I'm so thankful for where I am but recognize that it can all change in an instant. So I continue to dig down deep in God and be ready for whatever Satan throws at me because my endurance, my character, and my hope all come from my Savior!
AshleyB, what a wonderful vision to have! How beautiful that the Lord made it so clear to give your burdens and that he’ll turn them into gifts.
Adeline- an amazing metaphor! Interesting too!
Sweet Ibukun, I really wish we all could be in that beach house, worshipping by the waves! Thinking of you my friend…
I am just feeling so inspired by this community and while I haven’t commented until now, I love reading all the inspirational words from everyone. I lost my 23 year old cousin earlier this year and an uncle last night and this verse is just bringing me so much hope in itself. I love the very next verse too that says hope does not disappoint. Love this! Since participating in these devotionals a I’ve had renewed inspiration to memorize scripture. (I haven’t always been good at making a point of doing this). I know there was a beautiful lock screen posted earlier but I also made one for mysel and I thought I would share in case someone wanted to use it too. Thank God for using all you wonderful ladies to inspire me and others! :) https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B92RYq9VPW3QQ1hVb…
I am sorry for your losses Melanie. We lost our special boy two years ago. I know it's hard. Love and prayers !
That is such a cool image and metaphor adeline. I never knew that about butterflies!
While meditating on the part that says, "rejoice in our sufferings" I looked up the greek for the word "rejoice" and it means "vaunt, to boast" as well as rejoice and joy. I don't believe it is to flaunt it like a Pharisee would but I feel that to boast or to vaunt our sufferings mean we can wear it as a badge of honour, to be proud (again not in the Pharisaic sense) that we have gone through what we have gone through because it ultimately helps us grow and mature in the Lord. I once read that a butterfly needs to beat really hard against its cocoon from the inside to be able to break it open to get out. Someone saw this struggle once and decided to help the butterfly by cutting open the cocoon so that the butterfly didn't have to struggle so hard. The butterfly exited, all wet like all butterflies when they emerged and the person waited to see it fly. Eventually its wings dried but it never flew. It never could fly because the struggle it does inside the cocoon is to strengthen its wing muscles and to pump the blood into them so that they can fly. That butterfly never got the chance to strengthen its wings. Those sufferings we have gone through help grow us so that we can mature to fly if we keep our eyes on the Lord (like Psalm 123 says) and we can wear them as badges of honour, like medals for battles won.
i'm thanking God for all you thoughtful, prayerful women today. this is a refreshing forum to wake up to on a sunday morning (especially on daylight savings time, when i really need to be refreshed!)
i love this verse, in this version. some of the versions are not so beautifully put. what struck me today was the feel of growth and progression in these words. it made me feel like if we continue to remember this, and grow and endure and hope always, that down the road, our suffering may not feel like suffering anymore, because it's just an avenue to bring us closer to God.
i found this quote, from St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, on suffering:
"It has come to this, that I can no longer suffer because all suffering is sweet. Besides, it is a mistake to worry as to what trouble may be in store; it is like meddling with God's work. We who run in the way of love must never allow ourselves to be disturbed by anything."
Great verse to meditate on, thank you!
Sweet sweet ladies…I’m so thankful for all of you today and for today’s verse. I’m glad that I can always come on here and be at home with you women. It feels like we are in one big beach house reading our God’s word and hearing the waters worship their Maker as the waves come crashing on the shore. He takes us on a path to develop us and refine us like gold. My prayer for today is that I see Him through the fire that develops my endurance. I pray same for all of us today. Have a blessed Sunday