While reading my Bible, I came across 1 Peter 4:12-13, which I had already marked up and jotted notes in the margins about. (My bible is full of highlighted text in different colors and notes to myself about my thoughts on different verses and concepts; it’s almost like a diary.) This passage states “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad – because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward, you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.” Plus my own notes in the margins about this passage go… “When going through difficult times allow it to push me closer to God and have joy in trusting Him, don’t get mad at God; embrace God for it.”
I had written this and highlighted this passage when I was going through the rough period of divorcing my first husband and being abused throughout the process. I highlighted this and prayerfully pointed out to myself that I should take joy in the Lord thinking of trials as physical abuse and physical suffering. You know; like finding that happy place in your mind so that you’re able to ignore what’s going on while you’re being hurt by someone else? Reading this today, I realize that trials also can refer to financial duress and the emotional stress of watching a child get sick and be diagnosed with something that one isn’t prepared to deal with or even just being in labor before giving birth. I was sad to figure out that I was pretty closed-minded on what suffering constitutes. What a wake-up call! I didn’t want to hear these words from God in my mind, I wanted God to sympathize with me, to uplift me and baby me back into a godly attitude. Now I realize there are many more levels to what suffering is and that it can be emotional distress too. I admit that I was taken by surprise and I thought it all was overwhelming and strange to be going through all what I did with Wigglebutt and with the job juggle that my samurai had to undergo as a result of this. It says right there in the verse I shouldn’t be surprised, but rather, be glad. I wish I remembered this verse last year during Wigglebutt’s big seizure. I got mad at the situation and frustrated with God. I should’ve let this situation push me to embrace God. Instead, I tried to turn to other people. That’s why I failed so miserably finding someone to comfort me… because I should’ve turned to the Lord in the first place! So I thought that I would blog about this information because I know a few of you are going through rough times right now too and maybe this will comfort you as it did me.
