Where or Where to Go Today….

Suffering should not bring us down, rather, it should bring us closer to God. He may allow us to suffer, but, this allows the creation of a stronger bond to Him. He wants our love.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say I have ADHD. You see, my thoughts are all over the map today.

Thinking about something we talked about in Bible study last week, (yes, it is rather profound), has stuck with me for this entire last week. Did you read the words above? The first paragraph. There is more to come. Once my brain allows me to fully get there.

I am also thinking about some pictures I took recently. The beauty of them and what they spoke to me.

My mind is truly just everywhere….so, I guess I will go with it.

The pictures I find myself thinking about are pictures I took a few weeks ago. I took them out my kitchen window, which overlooks my backyard. The window points to the East. Which, at times, results in beautiful sunrises. Over an 8 minute period I captured the most beautiful sunrise. One that showed me how very quickly things change. Mother Nature, circumstances, life. I wish to write about the sunrise I saw and captured that morning. What it spoke to me. Yet, here is the thing…the words, all of them, they haven’t come to me. Not in their entirety. My writing is very free form. It is based on the inspiration that hits me, the words that come into my heart. And those words, the ones for the sunrise, they seem to still be formulating. So, although I really wish to blog about the pictures, to share the pictures, I will allow my thoughts to continue to percolate and be patient enough to wait for the right words and the right time to tell you more.

I will end with my other rambling thoughts of the day. The thoughts are about what we studied in Bible study last week. We are studying the book of Romans. This particular book of the Bible isn’t that large. Sixteen chapters, start to finish. My Bible study group will review these sixteen chapters for nine months. Needless to say, by the time we are complete, Romans will be fairly well dissected.

Last week, we reviewed Romans 5:1-11. The verses that stuck out for me were 5:3-4.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”

The questions, and subsequent answers (well, mine), from Bible study, for us to ponder on these verses were as follows:

‘What attitude does Paul suggest in the face of difficult circumstances?’ To rejoice.

‘How do you think that attitude compares with the world’s reaction to difficulties?’ Polar opposite.

‘What makes the difference?’ People are not thinking about the glory of God and all He offers.

‘What three characteristics does difficulty produce in a believer?’ Endurance, Character, Hope.

The Bible study took this lesson even further and asked us to reference other Bible verses.

‘What do the following passages teach about suffering?’

Matthew 5:11-12 – To be happy, glad, as it means reward in Heaven.

2 Timothy 2:1-3 – God is The One that can offer grace, mercy & peace.

1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:8-11 – Not to be surprised – our suffering is what bonds us to God. Trust your life to God – He never fails us. Beware of the devil. Be strong and God repairs.

All of this is an entirely new concept for me. And, admittedly, a difficult one for me to grasp. The idea of rejoicing, upon my difficulties, seems almost ridiculous. There, I said it. My honest thoughts on the subject. To think of suffering as a good thing. Not a bad one. Really?!? Again, I’m struggling here. I get it. The core of what it is saying. I even believe it to hold true. I have heard it said before that sometimes it takes being at our lowest to find God. To reach out to Him. To ask Him to be in our life.

The last question, from Bible Study, on this particular set of verses, was this:

‘How would you put the biblical view of suffering into your own words?’ Suffering should not bring us down, rather, it should bring us closer to God. He may allow us to suffer, but, this allows the creation of a stronger bond to Him. He wants our love.

I guess I do get it. Somewhere, deep down. Where I am not trying to be in denial. Where I am not trying to live my life in my own way and by my own thoughts, desires, and beliefs. It is all about relation to and with Him.

And, there you have it. My ADHD thoughts for the day. A beautiful sunrise. Suffering, Character, Endurance, Hope, Difficult Times, and God. God, at the center of all of it.

Every. Single. Last. Thing…

Originally Written 4Nov15