In this lifetime if there is one thing for certain it is that we will experience pain and suffering. We try to hide from it, but it always ends up finding us, sooner or later. I wish I had all the answers, but I don’t. What I do know is that our God is a loving God. Surrendering to Him and letting Him lead the way will always be to our benefit. Trusting in Him as he refines us in the fire will result in something beautiful and shining.

This is a poem that I used to have taped into the inside of my bathroom mirror as a daily reminder:

It’s sometimes very difficult
for us to understand
the wisdom and the love
behind the things that God has planned.

But we wouldn’t have the rainbow
If we didn’t have the rain;
We wouldn’t know the pleasure
If we never tasted pain.

We wouldn’t love the sunrise
If we hadn’t felt the night;
And we wouldn’t know our weakness
If we hadn’t sensed God’s might.

We couldn’t have the springtime
or the yellow daffodil
if we hadn’t experienced
the winter’s frosty chill.

And though the brilliant sunshine
is something God has made.
He knew too much could parch our souls
so He created shade.

So God’s given us a balance:
Enough joys to keep us glad,
Enough tears to keep us humble,
Enough good to balance bad.

And if you’ll trust in Him you’ll see
Though yesterday brought sorrow,
The clouds will part and dawn will bring
A happier tomorrow.

==========

If only I could have seen some of these sweet pictures during some of my darkest moments. Nora is proof of God’s great goodness and His ability to make beauty from ashes.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
(1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV)