Time to Move On

"David noticed that his attendants were whispering

among themselves,

and he realized the child was dead.

'Is the child dead?' he asked.

'Yes,' they replied, 'he is dead.'

Then David got up from the ground.

After he had washed,

put on lotions and changed his clothes,

he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped.

Then he went to his own house,

and at this request they served him food,

and he ate."

2 Samuel 2:19-20 NLT

He couldn't eat, not when his son's life was at stake.  He would do whatever it took to demonstrate his remorse to the God who mercifully spared his own life only to strike his son with illness.  David hoped his gracious God would release this innocent child from the fatal consequence of his own sin.  Why must my boy suffer for how I grieved the Lord?

David hoped beyond all hope that God would spare his son.  He put the precious child in God's hands, acknowledging God's sovereignty over his life.  Once the boy died, however, David moved on, accepting the fate God had delivered.

It can be almost impossible to move forward after such a devastating loss, especially as a result of one's own sin.  Thankfully, all things are possible with God and He has shown me through David's example how to do just that.

Let Go

The sin seemed to hang over her like a heavy layer of fog.  She couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that plagued her, tainting her flesh with a leprosy-like shame.  How could she ever forgive herself for being so stupid?

Like this woman, I often hold onto my sin like some kind of shameful trophy, letting it define me.  When I only think of myself as a sinner, I miss out on half of the gospel!  Yes, I am definitely a sinner who can never reach God's perfect standard (Romans 3:23), but I am also forgiven by a gracious God through the blood of Jesus. (Ephesians 3:7) Failing to accept this forgiveness as my own leaves me as a crippled child, unable to live my life the way God intended. (John 10:10)

David understood the gracious and merciful nature of God.  When the Lord said David was forgiven and his sin were removed from him (2 Samuel 12:13), this man after God's own heart believed it to be true.  He accepted the pardon that was so mercifully offered.

This same absolution from the death sentence my sin has earned me has also been offered to me through faith in Christ.  Due to His selfless sacrifice on the cross, my sin has been removed from me as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12)  Though my sins are like scarlet, I have been bleached white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18) All that remains is the righteousness of Christ. (Romans 3:22)

With such a gift tucked firmly in my heart, how can I go on living in shame?  It's as if I were spitting in the face of Jesus!  He went through Hell to deliver the gift of salvation, yet I fail to accept it when I hang onto my sin.  I fail to let the blood of Jesus cover my sin when I don't fully embrace the forgiveness God offers, letting it taint me as if Jesus never died.  I live cowering in disgrace as if the death of my precious Savior accomplished nothing.  I don't want His death to be in vain!

In order to move on from the shame my sin leaves behind, it is time I fully embrace the forgiveness found in Christ, letting His blood cover my sin so it no longer taunts me.

Worship God

I just didn't feel like giving God any accolades.  My heart felt cold as a stone and I couldn't bring myself to offer even a tiny bit of praise.  So many trials had struck my life at one time; what good can I offer to God?  For what is there to thank Him?

I often think worship is based on my feelings.  If life is good and I'm feeling fine, I can sing His praises.  When everything starts falling apart, however, and I'm overwhelmed with pain and suffering, it can be hard to turn my heart toward the God who is waiting to love and comfort me.

In reality, God deserves my praise no matter what is going on in my life.  Job, possibly the most afflicted man in all of human history, was able to give honor to God for his very life in the midst of great anguish.  Even though he had lost all his children and wealth, he was able to say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:20-21)

My present circumstances don't diminish God's glory in the least bit.  He is still God, sitting high upon His throne.  It is by His hand that I take each breathe and only due to His mercy that I wake each morning.  I often find it significant that no matter what hurt or difficulty is plaguing my life or what tragedy has struck the world at large, the birds continue to sing praises to their Creator.  Nothing stops them from paying tribute to His glory!

Similarly, I can wake up with a song on my heart because I am redeemed by a God who didn't have to pluck me from the grave but out of love, chose to do so. (Romans 5:8) I can focus on the good that flourishes all around me, giving thanks to my Father for providing such bounty. (James 1:17, Isaiah 6:3) I can turn my attention away from the darkness of evil that threatens to overtake me, and instead home in on the Light of the world that delivers hope to my heart. (John 1:4-5, John 8:12)

In order to move on from the heartache found in the midst of a dark world I can choose to worship God no matter my circumstances.

Get on With Living

I stood at the edge of the conveyor belt watching for my luggage to appear.  It seemed all the other travelers from my flight were plucking their suitcases off the moving delivery system except for me.  Where was my stuff?

I can often feel like I'm standing on the outskirts of life, watching it pass on by like that luggage that didn't belong to me.  The hurt in my heart, or the pain in my body, or the bitterness of my soul can paralyze me, preventing me from joining in with life.  

When Jesus died on the cross, He became a conduit that delivered new life to me.  Along with this new life came a purpose; a grand design.  Every experience, each event, all the circumstances, whether good or bad, weave together to form a beautiful tapestry that is called my life.  Some threads seem ugly, hurtful and useless at the time, but in the hands of the Master Weaver, they work together to become breathtakingly gorgeous. (Romans 8:28)

Such a masterpiece is not meant to be admired like a painting in a museum.  No!  I am a piece of art that is intended to be used.  There is a great plan for my life that was put in place from the beginning of time; good things for me to do, kingdom missions for me to accomplish and acts of kindness for me to perform. (Ephesians 2:10) No one else can do what I've been called to do.

Therefore, when hard times come my way I can remember that I do not suffer in vain.  Instead, it will all work together to help conform me into the image of Christ, building character traits that will last forever and providing raw materials needed to build the masterpiece of my life.  

This amazing creation that is my life, then, will be used to bring glory to God as I follow the path He has set before me.  If I stay rooted in place, however, refusing to set foot on the course marked out for me because of the hurt I feel, or the pain I'm experiencing, or the injustice I've suffered, I'll never truly find my purpose.  I will not be living, then, but merely surviving.

In order to embrace the life God has created for me to live, I can decide to get on with it, refusing to let sin and suffering keep me from the plan God uniquely designed for me to fulfill.

David could have moped around, wallowing in the grief of losing his son and the shame of falling so far.  Instead, he accepted the forgiveness offered to him, took the time to worship God in the midst of his suffering, and got on with the business of living.  In so doing, he demonstrated for me how to move on when sin and suffering taints my life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to accept the forgiveness He offers through faith in Christ.

When do I beat myself up for past or present sins, essentially refusing the forgiveness that came from Jesus' sacrifice?

How am I rooted to the spot in misery when I could move forward on the path God designed for me to walk?

Comfort

"Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted."

Matthew 5:4

"Weeping may tarry for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning."

Psalm 30:5 (ESV) 

The pit loomed up in front of her until she could not resist the power of it.  The darkness lured her deeper and deeper in, promising relief from her grief, her sorrow, her guilt.  That's all she wanted: relief.  She didn't want to feel anymore, but wanted to go somewhere safe from the suffering.  This is what the shadows promised, so she let herself sink in, oblivious to the loving Hand that was reaching down to her, offering her real comfort.

No one likes to suffer.  Unfortunately, living in a fallen worlds means we'll experience plenty of it while we're here.  But life with Jesus offers hope. Hope not just for an eternity with Him, but the hope of the comfort of God in times of trouble. 

Blessed

Why would God want me to suffer?  To mourn the loss of a loved one, to grieve over past sin and the hurt it caused others, to lament over physical afflictions far too heavy to bear.  Doesn't He care?

If my happiness and contentment was the purpose for my life, then I would agree that God is a cruel and heartless God to allow all this suffering.  But, as pastor Paul Powell said, "God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. His goal is not to pamper us physically but to perfect us spiritually."

I will never know the blessing of comfort from the very hand of God until I am in the position to need comfort.  Those who have suffered much, have an abundance of compassion to pour out upon others because they themselves have received much from God.  He is, "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3)

I will never know true comfort until I allow God to ease my pain.  If I choose to wallow in the suffering, sinking into that dark place, out of the Light of His love, my anguish is prolonged.  But if I step into the Light, He will envelope me in His loving arms, taking my burden of pain, grief, sorrow and guilt. 

My load is lightened, and I am blessed by God's touch.

Temporary

God promises that the suffering will not last forever but joy will come in the morning.  This may be a comfort in and of itself.  Sometimes, the worst part of going through a difficult time is thinking that it will never end.  I will always feel this way.  I will never go back to normal.  But this is not of God.  He offers hope.

It reminds me of when I was in the hospital on strict bed rest for 2 months while I was pregnant with my triplet daughters.  I thought the time would never end, especially since I was there for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Even though my heart yearned for home, the doctors assured me that this was temporary and it was for the good of the babies.  I now see the wisdom in their counsel, for the time of confinement paid off with the birth of three beautiful, perfectly formed infants. 

In a similar way, our time of suffering gives birth to character traits that can only be produced through pain. ". . .we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:3-5) 

This temporary time of sorrow leads to things much greater than I can imagine.

Joy

Joy is not a word I think of in the same thought as grief.  I think of angels rejoicing at the birth of Christ, or the celebration in heaven when one sinner repents.  But I can honor this time of suffering, for it brings about the opportunity to experience the hand of God in my life.  No one else but God can lift me out of the doldrums, rescue me from the pit of despair, or give me the strength to walk from the deep shadows into the Light. 

To come into contact with the One who created me in such an intimate way is indeed a reason to rejoice.  It is the only way that joy can come at the end of suffering; because the mighty Hand of God gently caressed my tender, hurting heart, bringing about a healing not otherwise possible.

The touch of God brought about healing and now I can rejoice!

Suffering is one of life's necessary burdens, but it is not without purpose.  It brings about the blessing of the comfort of God, is only temporary in nature but results in eternal fruit, and gives an opportunity to rejoice at the witness of God's mighty hand in my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will not run from God during times of suffering, but allow Him to comfort me in my time of need.

When do I miss out on the blessing of comfort by trying to walk through a trial alone?

How do I focus on only the temporary suffering and thus miss out on the eternal reward?