A Soul's Goal- Greatness

I keep trying to take a deep breathe before I write this. Have you ever asked how someone is doing and all they can say is “numb”?  I hate that answer.

Feeling numb in the middle of a trial gives me mixed feelings. On one hand, I am glad that God, in His mercy, doesn’t allow us to truly feel the depth of the pain all at once. On the other hand, it completely breaks my heart when someone says they just can’t feel anymore.

I think those moments are exactly where Romans 8:28 comes in. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

When we love God during pain, we find His grace.

When we love God during misery, we find His hope.

When we love God during fear, we find His fortress.

When we love God during confusion, we find His clarity.

But this happily ever after isn’t exactly happy. Because suffering isn’t just some background music that can happen without us noticing. It is loud. And distracting. And consuming.

We have all suffered.

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars.” Khalil Gibran

The key to suffering is considering it joy. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

We have all seen those heroic figured who have inspired us. (See last night’s post) But more often than not, it was suffering that got those characters into those positions.

So what pain are you fighting through? How can you trust that it can be redeemed into something marvelous? How can it cultivate a massive character?

Get ready if you are serious. A strong soul may sound like a wonderful goal. But suffering is a difficult bridge to learn to cross.

Look at suffering as if it is an opportunity to be transformed into something greater than you already are.

The sufferings that I am being blessed to be a part of are going to scar me. But, more importantly, they are going to produce something greater than the scars.

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world" –C.S. Lewis