My heart just goes out to Emm and Gary right now. We were all hoping Gary would be given the opportunity for the job he recently applied for. It's hard to go through situations where we come to realize what we so desperately want isn't what God had in store for us because he is holding on to something better. That's when we have to rely on our faith, to keep moving forward and hoping even when we don't feel like we have any left. You can't have faith and fear at the same time, but you can't have faith when you sit back and feel sorry for yourself all the time either. Eventually you have to pick yourself back up and say "Now what? I'm ready!" being open to options you may have never considered before.
When we first moved to Georgia I got a teaching job at a school 10 minutes from our house. At the end of that year I was let go- due to budget and hiring practices while others who were awful teachers or not even SPED teachers were awarded positions I was qualified for. Then I was forced to take a job at a low income school, in a culture foreign to me, that was 40 minutes away and was stuck there for 4 years...Not something I would have ever chosen for myself, but now I look back on it and I am so grateful. I learned so much during that time, and feel that the school I'm at now is a reward and so much more appreciated due to the fact that went through those other experiences.
Then I think of John- he's been sort of forced to learn patience due to the tribulations he's experienced from the choices he's made. This is a lot like the Children of Israel in the Old Testament. Sometimes the reason we experience trials is because we need to learn patience. Heavenly Father has all the patience in the world, and all the time He wants to take to teach us the lessons we need to learn the most. Maybe we are just too stubborn to learn them and that's why they drag on.
I know that there are other members of our family that struggle with their own trials in their own lives. Some of them we know about, some of them we don't have any details of, except for the request to pray for them. Please know I am praying for each of you- daily. I would take your burdens myself if I could in order to ease yours, but Christ already did that for each of us. I love you all so very much!
I'm still working on the "glory in tribulation" part of this scripture. I suspect that once I learn to glory in the unpleasant issues of this life I may be ready to move on. I can say I have learned from tribulations, but that is not glory. I did have an experience this week that I think fit squarely into this scripture. I hope Mariah does not mind if I share it.
If you were to ask Mariah if she has or has had any tribulations she would probably have to think on it and then she might say something about her knee problems. If I was to ask you if you think Mariah has had any tribulations what would you say? If you are like me you might come up with several other more significant tribulations? Why are not these other issues a tribulation to Mariah? Could it be that God has blessed her to "glory" in her situation. Mariah is one of the happiest people I know. She has a smile for everyone. She has taken the lemons of life and now provides lemonade to everyone.
I still have lots to learn while I continue to suck on bitter lemons.
This scripture is a good one Emm. As I read it I had to include the next 2 verses: "4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." The following may be false but it is how I view things. Read at your own risk. I don't think anyone gets excited for tribulation. Tribulations are awful, painful, hard and by definition trying. They are terrible. The glory of the tribulation is found in the next 2 verse. Or in other words the process of refining our self, proving our selves. So as we wade through the the tribulations in our path, we are left with a choice; do we struggle, fight and overcome and improve or do we slowly become as dross and good for nothing. If we survive and overcome then we look back and glory in what we have achieved. I think Jen illustrated that point with the experience she shared. The glory is in overcoming not the trial or the temptation. We sing of Christ's glory because he overcame what he was ask to do, not because he simply tried.
Tribulation is a TRIAL with a capital T. That is while you are going through it. But after a time we only remember what we learned and can see how it made us stronger. I think of a women going through child birth. She knows it will hurt but she thinks about the baby and it is all worth it. Even a few weeks after the baby is born you can hardly remember the pain. In fact in a few years you are often ready to do it again. Crazy isn't it. I think that is like life. When we have trials we learn things we never wanted to but make us better. Think of all the things we have learned with Em and Mariah's handicaps. It has made us all better people and perhaps even helped you kids to choose your careers. Jen in special ed and Will in audiology. WE have more compassion for those who are not perfect in this life but will be in the next. Perhaps that is why enduring to the end is an essential part of the gospel. It is our university to the school of hard knocks. WE all just keep learning from life. After all that is why we came to earth to gain a body and to gain knowledge. Even with all our moving we learned to adjust and make friends far more that we would have if we would have just stayed in Logan, Utah. We are here to be perfected and refined, and trials do that. When I look around I am grateful for my trials are what they are. I see lots of people with more trouble than me. We are blessed to have the Holy Ghost to be with us so we are never alone. Heavenly Father is only a prayer away. Let us smile and be thankful that we made it one more day.
I really REALLY loved the post this past week. Your words have lifted a weary heart. It's amazing how tribulations bring our our "raw" emotions. We become more sensitive and humble and are reminded of our dependence on the Lord. I don't think I'll ever take joy in tribulations. What I do love is to experience the transformation because I feel lifted into his sweet embrace. It is in these tender moments I find hope.
It is interesting to note the scripture doesn't include joy, but GLORY. That is the gift of tribulations. The glory of tribulations. The glory is to come unto Him through our tribulations.
My heart just goes out to Emm and Gary right now. We were all hoping Gary would be given the opportunity for the job he recently applied for. It's hard to go through situations where we come to realize what we so desperately want isn't what God had in store for us because he is holding on to something better. That's when we have to rely on our faith, to keep moving forward and hoping even when we don't feel like we have any left. You can't have faith and fear at the same time, but you can't have faith when you sit back and feel sorry for yourself all the time either. Eventually you have to pick yourself back up and say "Now what? I'm ready!" being open to options you may have never considered before.
ReplyDeleteWhen we first moved to Georgia I got a teaching job at a school 10 minutes from our house. At the end of that year I was let go- due to budget and hiring practices while others who were awful teachers or not even SPED teachers were awarded positions I was qualified for. Then I was forced to take a job at a low income school, in a culture foreign to me, that was 40 minutes away and was stuck there for 4 years...Not something I would have ever chosen for myself, but now I look back on it and I am so grateful. I learned so much during that time, and feel that the school I'm at now is a reward and so much more appreciated due to the fact that went through those other experiences.
Then I think of John- he's been sort of forced to learn patience due to the tribulations he's experienced from the choices he's made. This is a lot like the Children of Israel in the Old Testament. Sometimes the reason we experience trials is because we need to learn patience. Heavenly Father has all the patience in the world, and all the time He wants to take to teach us the lessons we need to learn the most. Maybe we are just too stubborn to learn them and that's why they drag on.
I know that there are other members of our family that struggle with their own trials in their own lives. Some of them we know about, some of them we don't have any details of, except for the request to pray for them. Please know I am praying for each of you- daily. I would take your burdens myself if I could in order to ease yours, but Christ already did that for each of us. I love you all so very much!
Jen thanks for your thoughts. Means so much! Just trying to make lemonade from the lemons.
DeleteI'm still working on the "glory in tribulation" part of this scripture. I suspect that once I learn to glory in the unpleasant issues of this life I may be ready to move on. I can say I have learned from tribulations, but that is not glory. I did have an experience this week that I think fit squarely into this scripture. I hope Mariah does not mind if I share it.
ReplyDeleteIf you were to ask Mariah if she has or has had any tribulations she would probably have to think on it and then she might say something about her knee problems. If I was to ask you if you think Mariah has had any tribulations what would you say? If you are like me you might come up with several other more significant tribulations? Why are not these other issues a tribulation to Mariah? Could it be that God has blessed her to "glory" in her situation. Mariah is one of the happiest people I know. She has a smile for everyone. She has taken the lemons of life and now provides lemonade to everyone.
I still have lots to learn while I continue to suck on bitter lemons.
Just saw this after replying to Jen's post! Lemons have so much to teach us.
DeleteThis scripture is a good one Emm. As I read it I had to include the next 2 verses:
ReplyDelete"4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
The following may be false but it is how I view things. Read at your own risk. I don't think anyone gets excited for tribulation. Tribulations are awful, painful, hard and by definition trying. They are terrible. The glory of the tribulation is found in the next 2 verse. Or in other words the process of refining our self, proving our selves. So as we wade through the the tribulations in our path, we are left with a choice; do we struggle, fight and overcome and improve or do we slowly become as dross and good for nothing. If we survive and overcome then we look back and glory in what we have achieved. I think Jen illustrated that point with the experience she shared. The glory is in overcoming not the trial or the temptation. We sing of Christ's glory because he overcame what he was ask to do, not because he simply tried.
Tribulation is a TRIAL with a capital T. That is while you are going through it. But after a time we only remember what we learned and can see how it made us stronger. I think of a women going through child birth. She knows it will hurt but she thinks about the baby and it is all worth it. Even a few weeks after the baby is born you can hardly remember the pain. In fact in a few years you are often ready to do it again. Crazy isn't it. I think that is like life. When we have trials we learn things we never wanted to but make us better. Think of all the things we have learned with Em and Mariah's handicaps. It has made us all better people and perhaps even helped you kids to choose your careers. Jen in special ed and Will in audiology. WE have more compassion for those who are not perfect in this life but will be in the next.
ReplyDeletePerhaps that is why enduring to the end is an essential part of the gospel. It is our university to the school of hard knocks. WE all just keep learning from life. After all that is why we came to earth to gain a body and to gain knowledge. Even with all our moving we learned to adjust and make friends far more that we would have if we would have just stayed in Logan, Utah. We are here to be perfected and refined, and trials do that. When I look around I am grateful for my trials are what they are. I see lots of people with more trouble than me. We are blessed to have the Holy Ghost to be with us so we are never alone. Heavenly Father is only a prayer away. Let us smile and be thankful that we made it one more day.
I really REALLY loved the post this past week. Your words have lifted a weary heart. It's amazing how tribulations bring our our "raw" emotions. We become more sensitive and humble and are reminded of our dependence on the Lord. I don't think I'll ever take joy in tribulations. What I do love is to experience the transformation because I feel lifted into his sweet embrace. It is in these tender moments I find hope.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to note the scripture doesn't include joy, but GLORY. That is the gift of tribulations. The glory of tribulations. The glory is to come unto Him through our tribulations.
I really like this scripture a lot and we can apply it to our own lifes every day too , I love the scriptures so much too !
ReplyDeleteMariah Sparrow