Category Archives: Suffering

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 23: 4- A Prayer for Moms in Pain-

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Prayer Corner by Steve Prince Linocut 9″x12″

 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Lord, my Good Shepherd,
Help me remember that all those
Terrible and fearsome shadows
That hunt us in our Christian walk,
Are only shadows.
Help me remember that
Even death is a shadow,
Death has been conquered
Through Jesus’ death and
Resurrection.
Death doesn’t have the last word.
You do.
And you have promised Life,
eternal Life and the resurrection of the death.
Father, I pray you comfort today,
With your rod and staff,
All those moms who have
Lost a dearest child,
Or are barren.
Father help your daughters
Walk in light,
And not fear the shadows of this world.
Let them be comforted in the shadows,
Let your Word strengthen their hope,
Let your Word be a lamp to their feet.
May your Spirit comfort them today.
Thank you for your promise,
The promise that He will come to
be with us and not leave us.
We believe it.
Let your light, O God,
Shine through the darkness,
Through the shadows.
Help us fix our eyes on
What is to come.
Strengthen our faith,
our knees, our heart.
That we won’t lose hope.
 Amen

 

Becky

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 13- How Long, O LORD?-

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Psalm 13

1  How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2  How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3  Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4  lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5  But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6  I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

This weekend I have listened several times a sermon on Monergism by Dale Ralph Davis based on this Psalm. The sermon is entitled Faith: From Crying to Confidence. Friends, I cannot stress how much this sermon has blessed me; I encourage you to listen to it.

And based on this Psalm (and the sermon) I pray today…

O God, how much longer, how much longer?  Many friends of mine whom I love dearly, women who love you, who love your Word and are walking on your ways have recently lost their babies before they opened their eyes, even in their mother’s womb. LORD, we don’t understand, we just cry and at times try to hold our words back. At times we feel as if you had abandoned us. Father, O God, how long? What do you want to teach us, the body of Christ, when we see this and feel so helpless and alone?

O LORD, how much longer?   Don’t hide your face from us, don’t hide your face from my sisters’ faces who cry in the darkness. LORD, O LORD! Hear our cry! You alone can bring comfort to us. Please, Lord; please God, hear us and let your face shine upon us.

There are times when grief cannot find comfort in words, when we don’t know what to utter, what to say. There are times when the only question that springs forth from our troubled heart is, the same that David asked, “How long, O LORD?”

“How long? Ah!  how long do days appear when our soul is cast down within us!…Time flies with full-fledged wing in our summer days, but in our winters he flutters painfully.”(1)

How long? God, how long will we have sorrow in our heart all the day as we mourn the death of these babies who were to be born in Christian homes, in the Covenant? We need you to come Father, and look at us in our distress. We are in desperate need of you. We have cried many tears in the night, on our pillow, and swallowed hard… we have waited and waited, and waited and still do not understand your ways. We go to your Word and at times You seem far from us. How much longer until my friends, my sisters will find comfort in their sorrow?

How long will our enemies will see us having miscarriages while they go and put their babies to death? How long LORD? Remember that we are poor and needy, Oh LORD, take thought for us. You are our help and our deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

Do not delay, O God!

Teach us to pray when our heart feels devastated; consider and answer us O LORD our God, light up our eyes, lest we sleep the sleep of death, lest our enemy say, “I have prevailed over them,” lest our foes rejoice because we are shaken. Don’t delay, O God, my LORD!

Father, where can we go for answers? To whom shall we cry? We have nowhere else to go but to You. Remind us that “the mercy-seat is the life of hope and the death of despair.” (2) O God, I come boldly before you today, because I have trusted in your steadfast love. My sisters and I will keep coming to you, day and night we will keep on knocking and knocking at the doors of Heaven. LORD only in You, in your steadfast love, in whom You are is where we will find rest and our heart will rejoice only in your salvation.

This day we thank you because You are our Father, a Father who has promised not to forsake us but to have compassion on us. You have promised not to leave us in the pit of desperation. We have trusted in Your covenant, in your perfect love, O God, and run to hide under your wings. You have given us hope and your Word to sustain us. Thank you, O LORD!

In the night dark of the soul, I thank you because even though we don’t always see clearly, we are not blind. You have made your light shine on us and You have given us your Word and the Holy Spirit to comfort us and help us in our weaknesses. Thank you, LORD because we are not placing our faith on vain things but on who You are; and You are God, a merciful and faithful God who remembers His own, who is Sovereign and Omniscient. You are our Father and your promises are Yes and Amen. Father just as a shipwrecked mariner clings to the mast (3), so we do now, we cling to our faith, we cling to You in whom our soul has believed.

God, my Lord, put a song in our mouth, clear our throats from this crying so that we may be able to sing your praises. O Father, our Father thank you because you have dealt bountifully with us.

Our Hope is in You and we look forward for the coming of our Lord Jesus, for the day in which all our tears will be wiped away.

AMEN!

Becky

(1), (2), (3) The Treasury of David by C.H. Spurgeon

Praying the Psalms 

Awaiting a Savior – A Christian Response to Poverty-

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A Cruciform Press book

I am Mexican. My country is a country of contrasts, a country in which you can find the richest man on earth, as well as people living in extreme poverty not so far from the richest neighborhoods in the most important cities.

I drive to my parents’ home once a week to have lunch with them, and every week, in the same corner, I see a poor family selling candy or some times just reaching their hand to beg for some money. The mom is always holding a baby in her “rebozo”, while the “big kids” (around seven years old) are most of the time selling gum to the car drivers when the stop light is on. But my eyes always look for the little one, a toddler. He is always in a corner playing happily with empty milk cartons, or old toys. Every week, my heart aches. Many times we have brought food for them, or clothes, but there are always these questions in my heart, how can we really help those in need when you see them every where? Is there a real solution to all this poverty around me? Whom do we help? The family on the street, the friends that are going through hard (real hard) times, the children in a far away land with no drinking water? What is the Christian response to poverty?

Aaron Armstrong has written a book, Awaiting a Savior: The Gospel, The New Creation and The End of Poverty,  that has spoken directly to my heart. He has in few pages, answered many of these questions.

Armstrong says,

“Resources and awareness and policies are important, but poverty is not fundamentally about any of these things. The root of poverty is sin.” (p.9)

The author understands the gospel’s message well. He knows that the bad news always precede the good, so he keeps on saying,

“¨[O]ur good faith efforts to address legitimate questions of poverty and injustice must never lose sight of the fact that poverty will persist as long as the heart of man is ruled by sin.”. (p.10)

This book is one that reminds us of the hope that should keep us pursuing biblical solutions to poverty. Armstrong says,  

“our only hope for an ultimate solution to poverty is in the return of Christ, when he will put an end once and for all to sin, suffering and death, and bring out the New Creation.” (p.11)

And that is when I take a deep breath and keep on reading. Armstrong takes us back to Genesis, the Paradise, the Fall, and the curse that came as a result of it.

“Whereas the curse upon Eve is primarily about interpersonal relationships, Adam’s curse spreads outward to all economic life… Prosperity will always be challenging and elusive. The very materials and processes we work with to try to create prosperity will resist us. And it will continue like this until the day we die.” (p.18)

But physical poverty, as terrible as it is,  is not the ultimate poverty. Armstrong says,

“A fallen world inhabited exclusively by sinners; that is the essence of poverty. Sin, and the effects of sin throughout creation, is the Poverty from which all other poverty flows” (p.23)

This is the heart of the book, this is what makes this book so important;  Awaiting a Savior goes to the root of the problem of poverty that surrounds us.

This is a book that I greatly recommend as a tool to train the young people who want to come and do missions to poor countries. In Latin America, sadly to say, we receive many missionaries, many youth groups that come every summer to help build churches, and paint walls, and sing children’s songs in poor areas; but we need to go deeper, we need to go to the root of poverty: sin in the heart man.

Armstrong deals, then, with the root of poverty, but also with the root of our inability to respond in a God-glorifying way towards poverty.

“Sin thus not only causes poverty but also poisons our attitude toward those suffering within it.”

We try to help, but very often we loose sight of our real aim:

“Ultimately, poverty can only be addressed at the heart level, one person at a time, s salvation through the shed blood of Christ pushes back against the fall of man.  The ultimate answer to poverty is circumcised hearts that know the God who forms and keeps covenant with poor and undeserving sinners.” (p.47)

Chapter Five, was probably my favorite. Armstrong reminds us of the Sermon of the Mountain and how “The gifts of love always precede the demands of love”. Oh yes, Grace, amazing Grace that reaches to the poor effectively.

“That is what is so devastating about the Sermon on the Mount. It starts with grace…”

And as the paragraph continued, it brought me to my knees in prayer, conviction and thanksgiving. Grace is the starting point; it was there where Jesus found me. It is there where we should start if we want to effectively help the poor among us until the day we see Jesus.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Becky

*I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by the author for the purpose of this review. I was asked to write an honest review.

On Books and Reading, -Suffering and Affliction-

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Marsha left a comment on Monday’s post saying,

“Can you recommend some Bible passage and/or books that would give me a foundation on glorifying Him in the midst of suffering? I am having a difficult time with the question who is the author of suffering, etc.

Thank you for your blog which makes me want to dig deeper.”

Marsha is not the only one struggling with these questions; when afflictions come to our lives, if we are not well grounded in the Word of God, our faith trembles and many times it falls, like a fine piece of China, into thousand pieces to the ground.

I was never taught about afflictions in the Church I grew up. For 20 years I only heard from the pulpit about the joyous, peaceful, and victorious life that we should be enjoying as children of the King. I heard all these years how we should confess to receive, and bind and loose; and claim promises and fight for them. How far I was from the teachings of the Word of God! But God had mercy on me and my family; and he opened our eyes to see and our ears to hear, and 9 years ago we started to really learn what the Bible teaches in many areas including suffering and affliction.

Our Father knew what was ahead of us. Last July we experienced the hardest trial ever, the loss of my sister’s precious baby girl, an infant. The suffering and affliction has been hard to bear, but many years before this event, God starting preparing our hearts to endure the fire that tests our hearts, as we learned to abide daily in His Word, as we grew in prayer, and as we studied about the purpose of why affliction and suffering come to the lives of the Children of God.

So Marsha, you are not alone; and even though I don’t you, nor your trials or afflictions, I pray God will give you a humble heart to receive from Him, not only the sweet providences, but also the bitter ones, knowing that even those proceed from a loving God.

Here are some good books and articles that have been helpful to me and my family; hope you find this list helpful.

Books:

How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil by D.A. Carson

Surprised by Suffering: The Role of Pain and Death in the Christian Life by R.C. Sproul

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper and some friends

Facing Grief by John Flavel (1627-91)

A Place for Weakness by Michael Horton

Help Heavenward by Octavius Winslow

Grieving, Hope and Solace: When a Loved One Dies in Christ by Albert N. Martin

Does Grace Grows Best in Winter by Dr. Ligon Duncan

A Word in Season to Suffering Saints by Thomas Brooks (1675) (ebook)

Voices from the Past: Puritan Devotional Readings

ARTICLES:

Understanding Suffering

Hope in Suffering

Why do we Suffer?

The Faithful Endurance of Suffering

A Refuge for the Weary Soul

Suffering Saints by Arthur Pink

Blessed Suffering by Bonar

In Affliction Look to Jesus by Winslow

Trisha wrote this, words that pierce and bring grace.

Rebecca Writes wrote this post today with some important links that deal with our suffering.

In this Blog:

Seeing God’s Hand in Our Affliction

Preparing Our Hearts for Affliction

Peace Under His Sun

Doctrines in Action -Beyond the Kitchen-

Learning to Count Trials a Joy

Trial a Help Heavenward (on Chapter 5 of Winslow’s Book)

 

“We also rejoice in our afflictions, because
we know that affliction produces endurance,
endurance produces proven character, and
proven character produces hope.”
Rom. 5:3-4

 

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will glory all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak–then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

May the Lord of all comforts be your Hidding Place today,

Becky

Thanking God for Those Who Endure Trials

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Facing fiery trials is part of our Christian life, and yet we must be reminded of Peter’s words very often:

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” I Peter 4: 12

Today is Gratitude Monday in this blog, and I want to thank the Lord, with tears in my eyes, for my sisters in Christ who are going through trials and are enduring faithfully and patiently. I admire each one of you* and praise God for your faithfulness. You are an example to me and I continually keep you in my prayers.

(#1389- 1396)

Lord, thank you for the hope of your coming. Help us to wait patiently until we see your face.

Thank you for each one of my friends who endure trials with a humble heart.

Thank you, Father, for my sister, who recognizes that even the hardest providences are providences of love.

Thank you for my friend Trisha, who in the midst of many losses, acknowledges that your grace is all sufficient.

Thank you for my friend who is struggling with her health; and at the same time battles against the flesh because she does not want to sin against you in the midst of her trials.

Thank you for friends who are struggling and suffering, but do not raise their voices against you.

Thank you for my sisters in a far away land who suffer persecutions. Lord, have mercy on them. Hear their cry, and help them stand firm.

Thank you for those women, saints who have gone before us and have endured hardships, losses, and trials, but have never denied your name.

Thank you for their example. O how they bless the church when with their works, they show their living faith.

Thank you for ______________, you know her name; Lord. She reads these words of mine today and loves your ways. She is going through a hard and bitter providence but keeps a quiet spirit and a humble heart. Lord, strengthen her faith today and help her to keep her eyes fixed on you.

Humbly, giving thanks…

Becky

*For the sake of prudence I am not mentioning all my sisters in Christ whose trials are many; but you know who you are and how much I love you and pray for you.

Doctrines in Action -Beyond the Kitchen-

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Katie Lloyd Photography

A friend of mine, who professes to be a Christian, trying to bring some comfort to my family last week, called me and was surprised to hear me saying that we were finding comfort in God’s Sovereignty; in knowing that God had the days of our baby Faith counted, and that it was God himself who had decided to bring her to Him before she could see the light. My friend insisted that God would not do such a thing.

If you have followed my blog for a little while, you have probably noticed that I like to insist, to persuade my readers to study the Word of God, to dig deeper into the Scriptures, to pursue  sound doctrine; not necessarily in order to be able to point out those who teach wrongly, but to be able to grow in Christ and stand firm in the day of trouble. And now, more than ever, I affirm this truth: What we believe today, when the waters are calm, will either sustain us or bring us to despair the day in which our faith will be put to test.

Because, yes, our faith WILL be put to test sooner or later.

We believe that God is reigning supremely over all; He is sovereign and good to His people. He is Omnipotent and at the same time mindful of His children. We believe that God is Faithful, and never breaks a promise, so if He has said that all things work for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose; then the home-coming of Faith was something good.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8:26-30

No, we have not asked “Why, LORD?” lifting our fists against Heaven; and we have not done this, first of all because the Lord has restrained us from sinning against Him; and secondly because we know Him. We know His character, and we rest assured in the sound doctrine of God’s Sovereignty.

“I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
for it is you who have done it.”
Psalm 39:9

 

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”

Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.”

Psalm 115:1-3

My friend has obviously a difficult time when trials to come, she has a hard time trying to solve the puzzles, and to give answers to all the “why’s” that assault her mind and heart. In her theology God is All-Powerful, but only until the Devil shows up, and messes up all things. Then God appears again and transforms all things, all the mess, into something good.

While the “problem of evil” is there, and we have no explanation to it (because the Bible doesn’t tells us about it) we do have an answer to it: God is Sovereign and All-Powerful and has conquered the evil one.

Dead doesn’t have a sting anymore, however, it still hurts; but we keep on pressing with our eyes fixed on Jesus towards the resurrection of our bodies and the day when we will be with all the saints in Heaven where tears will be shed no more.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” Philippians 3:12-16

I don’t know where you are standing today, where you are grounded, but remember that the trial of your faith will come; you better start preparing yourself for it even now.

Doctrine, the body of beliefs that you have now, will not only accompany you in the kitchen but also to the funeral of those you dearly love.

Under His sun and by His grace, 

Becky