DEEP THOUGHTS

I've had plenty of time to think over the past few weeks. And I've had entirely too much time on my hands. Injury or illness will do that - make you reflect, make you rest, show you that you're not superwoman. I've experienced a rush of emotions too...anger, sadness, frustration, loss of control, anxiety. I really don't do well without a schedule or a plan. And when life throws us a curveball, it's a surefire way to shake us up and get us out of our routine.

Some people would say, "What's the big deal? So you can't run for a few weeks." Well, they obviously have NO IDEA what running means to me and my health and well-being.
However, I'm sure my running friends know exactly what I'm talking about! When you are injured or ill, you suddenly feel left out when everyone else is running and racing and you're stuck at home. It's hard to read the race recaps and see the pictures. All you want to do is get back out there and be a part of the thing you love to do.

MY REALIZATION

Sunday's sermon was PERFECT for me. Pastor Lewis preached on the 8th step to recovery which is: "Yield myself to God to be used to bring the good news to others by both my example and my words".

Sometimes God allows a painful situation in our lives to make us change our ways and to trust Him completely. See II Corinthians 1:8-10: (from The Message Bible)

8 We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. 9 We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally - not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! 10 And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing.

And yes, sometimes it's the best thing that's ever happened to us. I also love verse 4:

4 He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.

That's the REAL meaning of our suffering. We suffer, we trust in God and then someone is suffering through the same thing and it's our job to be there for them, comfort them. I believe this with my whole heart! I just needed to be reminded. Thank you Lewis!

There is purpose in our suffering. A BIG purpose. We should consider it a blessing.

Psalm 119:71
71 My troubles turned out all for the best - they forced me to learn from your textbook.

So today, I focus NOT on my troubles or pain, but on the troubles or pain of others. How about you?