God Knows If We Are Suffering No Matter What Our Circumstances

      

           

     God knows if we are suffering no matter what our circumstances. Even if we are too sick to have hope, too blinded to be aware, too desperate to focus, too confused to step forward, too angry to talk or too drunk to care.

What is constant throughout Scripture is that God provides comfort to the suffering and meets the needs of the broken-hearted (Psa. 34:18, Psa. 145:18). His Word promises that those who are in the midst of suffering, whether experiencing death or depression, have the hope that everything is working together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28).

Emotional and physical illness can affect any of us. Whether a pastor, Sunday school teacher, or faithful churchgoer, the suspected struggle of illness of any kind should not be a source of shame or be kept hidden. The Church should be a place of safety and community, where those who are struggling can be honest, ask people to rally around them in prayer, and be assisted in seeking all that they need to become whole.

When we encounter people who suffer with emotional instability, who are physically infirm or have a wounded spirit we can only look to the example of Christ for guidance and provide support and assistance, as our talents will allow. It is in that moment that our gifts from God can be multiplied through others.  In reality the people that we have the honour to meet or serve may need much practical assistance. Some need food and clean water, some people need a Doctor, some people need skilled counselling or even a true friend and some need spiritual guidance.   

What if people need several things at one time? 

Can there be a melding of these treatments? The short answer is yes. In a clinical setting it would be referred to as “solution based therapy”.. This is not geared just toward treatment alone. It is geared toward results.

There are 3 pillars that support our good health. These areas that support us are so important I call them “The Tripod of Life”. They are: sound physical health, stable emotional health or mental health and powerful spiritual health. These three are necessary to work together synergistically for us to thrive in this life. “This life” matters because it is our proving ground.

 God sees our suffering and God knows our every need. He knows that our physical health will affect our mental health. He knows that our spiritual health is the thing that binds us to Him, and connects us to each other and to our world. It is the glue, if you will, that holds everything together.

But my intention was to speak on addiction and to reference what Christ thought about it so that I could understand more clearly how these things all fit together. That being said I have not digressed so much.

Consider “alcoholism” for example.

Does this addiction affect our physical health? Of course it does, as any recovering alcoholic will honestly attest. i.e. Liver, stomach, brain trauma, diabetes and more….

Does it affect our emotional health? Very much so….Ask any recovering alcoholic the price of bad judgement based on a myriad of internal upsets.

And lastly, how does one get through the rage to embrace life again…To embrace God?

With alcoholism, the tripod of life has been destroyed and the ability to thrive has been replaced by hopelessness and despair.

But God knows our every need, our every weakness, our pain, and our struggles. He knows what is in our hearts even if we cannot see ourselves. He knows our worth even as we feel worthless ourselves. After all alcoholism, or to use the terminology of the bible, to be a winebibber or drunkard, was shameful even in the days of Christ; which was evident as they also called Jesus a glutton and a winebibber to discredit him among the people. The wonderful part of being addicted is not the ride because it is a very rocky, hard ride, it is in the eventual realization that we can begin again with God’s grace and as we do we can reassemble our tripod of life and become again “whole”. What an amazing gift that is.

 Corinthians 6:9-11

Paul to the Corinthians -

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

There is forgiveness for those just for the asking, with an honest heart. As the hymn says “From Every Stain Made Clean” From every sin set free”..

The teaching of the Bible makes us understand how important it is to forgive others. In doing so asking for forgiveness through the father can be our pathway. We follow the example of Christ on the cross when he said Father forgive them they know not what they do. He did not say.. “I” forgive you.” He appealed to the “Father” to show compassion and forgiveness. We can follow his example.

But how do we forgive “ourselves” when we are the cause for the pain of others. When the light comes on and in the bright light of understanding we can clearly see what all we have done; How can we be forgiven in reality and do we deserve it? How can we forgive ourselves? How can we cope with the pain?  How do we survive without the drug, without the drink with a clear mind and with a raw realization of our transgressions against our family, our friends, those that trusted us and loved ones?

Do we forgive ourselves or do we seek forgiveness for our sins?

Psychologists will tell us that we need to forgive ourselves and that we even need to ask forgiveness from others. Psychologists equate the act of not punishing ourselves to forgiving ourselves. While it is true that it is counterproductive to pound ourselves and allow the punishment of regret to overcome us, our only salvation is to repent and to atone for our sins as “we are therefore reconciled to God. And we become one with God. Through faith we can receive our salivation.

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.

The Good News:

Healing goes hand in hand with thanksgiving and praise. God rewards a grateful heart.

 Matthew 9:29

"Then he (Jesus) touched their eyes [of the blind men] and said, 'According to your faith let it be done to you.

According to your faith………

IF YOU BELIEVE in the power of the Lord then he shall bestow healing upon you, even in the darkest hours.

If you BELIEVE then the power that God has given YOU shall also be manifest in your life… If you believe..

If you BELIEVE it will set you free.

If you believe and I believe and we together pray, when our faith is shared, becoming a common treasure, The Holy Spirit has promised to be with us. To be in our midst as we pray together. God’s presence is with his people; The hearts of His people are the Holy Temple of the Lord… Ephesians 2:19.There is much power in prayer….

  If you BELIEVE….

 We can begin our journey when we ask the father:

We can say Father…

 I am undeserving and embarrassed before thee.. But if you will lead I will follow. I am weak but I know you can make me strong. I am filthy but you can make me clean, I am broken but you can make me whole. I place myself in your hands and if you will take me forward I will measure my worth against your yardstick and my life by the perfect example of Jesus Christ.

Amen

There is no need to forgive ourselves when God almighty can and will do that for us. The price is Repentance…The key is that we place ourselves in God’s hands. The reward is redemption.

Ephesians 4:32

“And be you kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”

 The first step is asking the Father to intercede for us and for others. The next steps are matters of the heart so that when we ask the father to intercede we can do it with a tender heart, a heart full of gratitude because it is at this moment when the hand of God is firmly upon us. As we become closer to God our heart will open and we will become more God-like which is what Jesus has asked of us.

All of us feel a need to move beyond the narrow limits of the material world that surrounds us.  We recognize in our hearts a yearning for communion with the transcendent reality we know is God.  Prayer is an essential element in this journey – it is our speaking with God – our lifting our minds and hearts to God.

Therefore the starting point of our journey must necessarily be humble prayer, and we must continue to be prayerful always.  If we seek communion with God, then we must communicate with God; we must respond affirmatively to the call of love that He has already initiated. In thus responding to God’s initiative, we open our hearts to Him and thereby allow His grace to transform our hearts so that we might live in the fullness of love, truth and understanding.

May we all live in the fullness of love and truth and be guided and enlightened by his spirit each day.

Hear me Lord -

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts,

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139: 23-24).

Amen

The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;

    and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. Proverbs 18

Dear Lord –

Bless our Bible Study…

Let us, as we go forward, become both wise and prudent. Allow us to share with others Your grace with the understanding and awareness that we can multiply ourselves through others in a way that is pleasing to you.. Help us to sow the “Good” seed and fight the good fight..

We ask these things in Jesus name –

Amen

Orally Presented to the Bible Study group by Gilman Jones  6/14/2020