Another Reason to Struggle

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Another Reason to Struggle

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
 
Dad auctioning children’s artwork.

There are many reasons that God allows trials into our lives. Sometimes we suffer because we or someone else has sinned, but that is not always the case. We know from the Bible that Christians will suffer painful trials on this earth as a result of being a child of God. When we identify ourselves with Christ, there will be times when we will be misunderstood and mistreated just as He was. Difficulties also sharpen us and help us to grow in our faith. But there is another reason that we may suffer.

As we struggle through temporary troubles on this earth, God gives us His real and compassionate comfort. He promises never to leave us and He gives us the grace to make it through our struggles as we keep our eyes focused on Him. On the other side of our trials, or sometimes even in the midst of them, we will have the opportunity to encourage others who are enduring their own personal struggles. In sharing our experiences and the comfort we have received from God, we may be able to help sustain the weary one with the Scripture as well as with empathy and practical help.

Monday night Dad and I attended a fundraising event for the Children’s Miracle Network. Dad was the auctioneer for the event and was charged with selling six pieces of children’s artwork to help raise money to support this good cause. One of the special guests was Jack Nicklaus, perhaps the most successful professional in the history of the game of golf. He and his wife Barbara were attending the event to raise awareness as well as to encourage the children who have gone through so much pain because of their medical problems and subsequent treatments.

Jack and Barbara Nicklaus sponsoring event.

Jack and Barbara explained that the reason they have spent so many years and so much money to sponsor this cause is because of something that they experienced many years ago. Their young daughter was having trouble breathing and kept passing out, so they took her to the hospital and found that she had swallowed a crayon.

As the doctor’s tried to remove this foreign object from her tiny body, the crayon broke into small pieces and parts of the crayon migrated into her lungs, causing them to nearly lose their little girl. Miraculously she survived. Jack and Barbara were so grateful that they have dedicated many of the following years to encouraging and helping other parents and children who are going through medical tragedies.

Miss America 2015 even showed up.

How much more can a child of God who has experienced very difficult circumstances encourage and strengthen others with his or her sympathy and understanding? Not only can we offer our support, but we can also share our faith in what God has done and can do?

Nothing is wasted with God. Everything we experience comes through His loving hands and He is there with us the whole time, encouraging and strengthening. As we feel His presence and sense His strong arms holding us in these times, what a wonderful blessing it is to unite with others in similar circumstances and share our encouragement with them.

When you are going through a difficult time, look to God and ask Him for His compassionate comfort and mercies. Then look around and see who you can help as a result of the encouragement God has given to you. You may be just the one who gives another sufferer the strength to look up.

Love,

Mama

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Hi, I'm Sandy! 

I write inspirational letters based on the Bible that share words of hope, encouragement, truth, and healing to my children and anyone else who longs for a mama's touch.

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