"It is difficult to find anyone in our culture who will respect us when we suffer. We live in a time when everyone's goal is to be perpetually healthy and constantly happy, and if any one of us fails to live up to the standards that are advertised as normative, we are labeled as a problem to be solved.
But these Psalms give dignity to our suffering. They do not look on suffering as something slightly embarrassing which must be hushed up and locked in a closet . . . because this sort of thing shouldn't happen to a real person of faith. And they don't treat it as a puzzle that must be explained . . . Suffering is set squarely, openly, passionately before God. It is acknowledged and expressed. It is described and lived."
Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (extracted thoughts on the Psalms)
Is she going through another bad spell, or is this a chronic condition? Poor woman.
ReplyDeleteLisateresa
My mom too, Anna.
ReplyDeleteAnna, I take it that your mother is unwell. I'm very sorry to hear that. I'm just about to say my morning prayers and will include your dear mother and your family in them. Best wishes from Angela.
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ReplyDeleteI really like this passage when it comes to difficult times, and going gently through them. The acknowledgement of seasons, the passing of them. The honesty of them.
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Ecclesiastes 3:1-8King James Version (KJV)
3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Lisa, at the moment she has an infection in the bones of her foot (osteomyelitis). Angela, thank you for praying for her.
ReplyDeleteFather, please comfort annas mother as she is unwell. May she feel Your Presence beside her,comforting her,and holding her close. Be with Anna as she longs for her mother to be well. Bring them closer to eachother,and closer to You.
ReplyDeleteIf more of us were honest about our sufferings others may not feel so alone. We must let others know how God calls out to us as we suffer and the wonderful mercies we find as we walk through physical as well as mental anguish. Christian fellowship is key to suffering well as others can speak truth to us while we suffer.
ReplyDeleteSending my prayers to your mum-
ReplyDeleteTake care-
I will offer prayers for your dear mother, Anna.
ReplyDeleteI love the Psalms so much, and when one is feeling too ill to pray in one's own words - well, there you have them - the Lord's own prayers.
Wonderful quote.
ReplyDeleteMy mom deals with chronic pain; it is so hard to see the ones we love suffer.
The Psalms are a precious comfort....I have taken the last year to go through them, bit by bit, after a period of discouragement in my own life. What a blessing!
Will pray for your mom, as I pray for my own.
I will join those who pray for your mom. And I will also give thanks for the godly insights of Eugene Peterson, who has been used by God to speak to so many of us.
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ReplyDeleteWhenever I am suffering I remember that Jesus suffered as well and feel closer to him.
I have always preferred the term 'longsuffering' to the modern translation 'patience'...it just depicts the whole picture so much more vividly. The quoted words ring so true though Anna. There is great dignity in suffering with the grace apportioned to us by our Lord. And in so doing we share in the sufferings of our dear Saviour. And hold onto that glorious hope that one day He will wipe every tear from our eyes and our bodies will be changed in a twinkling of the eye where pain will be no more. And so we say Come Lord Jesus Come.
ReplyDeletei've just recently begun reading this book.
ReplyDeletea slow read. worthy of the process..
Thank you for this. My daughter is chronically ill, and it's really hard for someone to understand that no, she is not better yet....and I don't know when or if she ever will be. We are all trying to learn what God has to teach us right now. I hope your mom has found some relief by now and is able to rest in the Lord regardless.
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