We are women and as women we want to appear to have our “act” together. 
We are conditioned to look good, smell good, act good and have the appearance of a whatever a “woman” is expected to be in our world, at the given time.
But our lives are not always the pretty package that you see in magazines. On the contrary we struggle with less than perfect marriages, less than manageable children, and less than ideal appearances. We live through very real suffering and we also live through imagined or perceived suffering…the kind where we are our worst enemy! Throughout the course of our days we will walk in imperfect places and deal with disappointing people, health and circumstances…that is life in this real world.
So do you want get real? Well then, to be “real” in our faith we must embrace
not only the blessing but also the suffering. To live for God does not initially come natural for any of us, but the more we have had to die to or give up, the easier it is to grab hold of Him. The more we see the weakness of our own ways, the quicker we will pull ourselves up by His Strength alone.
If you ever thought suffering was not in the Bible, think again. And, after you have digested it, remember it to encourage those who face very real sufferings in their present circumstances.
Today’s Truth: 1 Peter 4:1-2.
“Since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
This month’s verse to SOAK or MARINADE in….1 Peter 4:19
“Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
Unpacking the Truth
- Suffering has a purpose ( essential to KNOW and believe this)
- It changes our compass and enables us to live pointed towards Christ more than SELF.
- Suffering humbles us and causes us to look to God and requires a different attitude.
- The attitude of committing ourselves to God because He is FAITHFUL is the way to freedom in the middle of circumstances we might not be able to change.
- Ask God to have his purpose in your current suffering and then daily, or as many times a day as needed, commit your self into the hands of you faithful creator.
- Don’t sulk in your suffering, instead commit yourself to God and look for ways to find joy through continuing to help others or do whatever good you were already walking in prior to your present circumstance.
Not suffering yourself?
Encourage those you know who are in a less than desireable place in life. Love them, support them the best you can, and most especially pray that God has his perfect work in their time of suffering.
Today’s Prayer
Lord, I thank you that your word of truth is so relevant to our every day imperfect lives. Father when we suffer in our flesh, in this life, we die a little more to self. In ourselves we can not really accomplish this kind of death, and it happens through our sufferings, from small to large, in this life. Shape us as we go through things and teach us the importance of committing ourselves into your faithful hands each day.
