Though this has nothing to do with Madagascar, I cannot help noting that in exactly one year from today John will be my husband!
Once again, God has brought the topic of suffering to my mind. I came across a quote in Thomas Hale's book that resonates well with me. He writes, "God ordains all circumstances. Through these circumstances God disciplines us. Through these same circumstances Satan ties to tempt us to sin." (p. 154). He goes on to explain how God uses suffering for our good, yet often we choose to respond negatively and we end up moving further away from Christ rather than closer. I really like his explanation... for the longest time when I was first diagnosed with arthritis I wondered whether Satan had caused it or God had ordained it. A couple time in the Gospels Jesus told his disciples that the victims of sickness had their illnesses simply so God's glory could be shown as a result. But at the same time, Jesus would often cast out the "spirit of infirmity" when healing various people. But if my sickness has been ordained by God to bring Him glory, it'd also make sense that Satan would attempt to use this illness to make me sin in some way. So I must choose to remain faithful to the Lord (like Job) and bring Him glory in the midst of my arthritis.
There's a song I listened to this morning while cleaning rice that goes along with this topic and missions in general:
Joy in my Morning
When darkness falls; Temptations call
And all around me seems undone
You hear my pleas; supply my needs
And tell me of Your wondrous Love
You are the joy in my morning
You're my song of praise
Just like the new day dawning
Flooding my world with grace
Though trials come; and every one
Can take me further from Your Truth
You calm my fears; Dry all my tears
And draw me closer; Lord to You
In You there's no shadow of turning
Constant in all Your ways
You're growing my faith and I'm learning to lean
On You all of my days
-Sovereign Grace Music (Words by Peter Gagnon)
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