When one day I was overwhelmed by suffering, in tears I sought the Lord. I imagined myself at the foot of the cross on Calvary, while Jesus is hanging there still alive also suffering just like me.
I asked the Lord, "Lord Jesus,I when I look to the crossIcross, I see you suffering. Like you I am suffering too. What words of comfort can you give to me, to encourage me, in my suffering?" The Lord was not silent, but spoke back to me and I rushed for a book and pen to scribble down those words, before the words left my mind. The words were the most gentle and comforting words I have ever heard in my life. They were filled with so much love and patience despite Jesus himself going through his final agony on the cross. His suffering was Redemptive for the whole world. If we unite our personal suffering too the suffering of Jesus Christ, that to becomes Redemptive.
I was encouraged by his voice to suffer patiently and wait on him to act my life.
These were his words:
"Candice, my child I am surrounding you with my GRACES. Remember that I bore all my suffering with LOVE and not with rebellion. In the same way bear all your suffering with LOVE. In this way you give glory to God. My GRACE is sufficient for you."
"Candice my child I love you. Do not fear my child I am always with you. I am holding your hand and I will never leave you."
Through this and many other incidents Jesus revealed the mystery of suffering to me. I soon was given wisdom to see what God was doing in my life, it's called Redemptive Suffering. God was purifying me like gold and silver back then.... Like gold that is profited in the crucible of suffering... Like blood strained wool is bleached, till it becomes whiter than snow, like a bread or cake loaf is baked in the furnace of suffering, so will I be tried and tested till I become pure as gold, whiter than snow.
Only when the gold shines is so purified that the reflection of the master can be seen in it, or till the will is so bleached that is whiteness matches that of snow, that it blind the eye, causing snow blindness... Only then will Jesus image be reflected in me. Until then he is at work in me.
Through this and many other incidents Jesus revealed the mystery of suffering to me. I soon was given wisdom to see what God was doing in my life, it's called *Redemptive Suffering.*
Thanks for sharing, Candice.
ReplyDelete