The Joy of Tribulation

Hello friends! I have had a very interesting time the last several weeks, and I wanted to share a little bit of the process, which the Lord has so graciously invited me to be apart of.

Some of you may or may not know, but about 3 weeks ago, I relapsed, meaning I had an adrenal/Addisonian crisis, which has sent my body spiraling downward into a hole. It's been a roller coaster of crisis intervention, medicine, narcotics for pain, etc., but the Lord sustained me and kept me from having to go back into the hospital! As of this week, I think I'm having a little bit of a turn around, but it's a slow arduous process.

At any rate, what the enemy would have meant for harm, the LORD has been turning around for good! I have been AMAZED at the Lord's sweet tenderness in these low places of suffering and tribulation! And this is the insight that I want to share with you, because what the Lord does for one of His afflicted ones, He does for ALL of us!

Many of us know this familiar passage:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (Jms. 1:2-4)

Now, the initial interpretation of this passage is exactly what it's talking about -we can consider it pure joy when we face hardships because the Lord is fashioning His character in us, He is completing His work in us, and He is preparing and equipping us for the calls that He has placed on our lives, so that we will be "full and complete, lacking nothing." Lacking nothing! Think about that! No lack, no need, no desire unfulfilled. In essence, the tribulation will expedite the process of you coming to a place of COMPLETE and TOTAL fulfillment in Christ, in your heart, and in your life! What an INCREDIBLE promise.

But there's another joy, which is not specifically stated in this passage that I believe anyone, who has ever faced the deepest valleys and sought the face of God in them, has come to understand, experience, and appreciate...it is the joy of God's Presence in the suffering! To me, this is really what James was talking about! We can count it all joy when we face trials of all kinds, not only because of the character that He is fashioning in us, but more so because of the joy it is to be with Him in His presence in the process! He is near the broken-hearted, and the afflicted He does not despise, but listens and answers their cries! (ref. Ps. 51:17; Ps. 22:24)! For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, there is life, there is love, joy, peace, and all His other fruits as described in Galatians 5.

It is not that we have to go through hard times to appreciate His presence; in fact, He makes Himself available to us at all times, giving us complete access to His throne because of Christ (ref. Heb. 4:16). However, there is something extra special, an extra tenderness and kindness that manifests from Him for those, who are suffering...an intimate embrace awaits the broken hearted, the wounded and the afflicted, the weary and distressed. He is our Healer, our Keeper, our Comforter, but you cannot receive comfort if there is nothing to be comforted, cannot be "kept" if there is nothing to keep, and there is no need for healing if there is nothing to heal.

Oh for the joy of being with Him in the process of the pain! Like a mother, who holds, rocks, and soothes her child, who scraped his knee; like a mother hen, who gathers her chicks beneath her feathers, this place of vulnerability and strength under God's wings and in His arms is such a precious gift for us to cherish. My prayer is that you can find this same place with Him during the worst of times, because it is in these darkest and coldest of moments that the light of the Morning Star shines all the more brightly, and His warmth invades and surrounds your heart more prominently.

To Him be the glory and honor and power forever!

Growing in Favor and Stature

(Hi readers! I just wrote an email to a friend, who is also enduring some chronic health issues. However, as I was writing it, it seemed to me that it could serve as an encouragement to others, who are going through rough seasons, not necessarily of illness, but of hard times, trials, difficult places in relationships, finances, or employment. Be encouraged by this Word to all of us, who endure long winter seasons.)


"Little by little, you are getting stronger. One of the things that I have had to look at, when analyzing my overall recovery/rebuilding process, is not looking at the day to day, but the year to year progression of strength. Like this: Feb 2007, I was in critical condition, scaring drs., confined to the premise of my home because leaving it would have set my adrenal glands off and landed me in the hospital (it wasn't a very good season physically), barely any strength to walk around the house, etc., life hanging by a thread. Almost exactly one year later, Feb. 2008, get this, now (this is how the Lord works), I am sitting on a stage singing opera! Yes, I was still weak and had to sit, but I was in a play for crying out loud! Summer 2007, little more strength, but couldn't travel, summer 2008, I'm FLYING to TN! See?

When you have chronic health issues, you have to look at the overall picture. The Lord grew in wisdom and stature and favor with both God and men (Lk. 2:42), He didn't just come to earth, born of Mary all suited up with miraculous power, wisdom, etc...He had to grow from year to year. And if He had to grow in strength, the only perfect Man who ever lived, then by golly, that's how we're going to have to live, ya know?

Anyway, let that encourage you! Look at the years of your (trials), and see how you've come from one year to the next...don't look at the day to day, because that can get a little discouraging for those of us with chronic illness (or struggles), cuz, quite frankly, we can't see or feel hardly any difference...until we adopt God's vantage point of the big picture. Don't only look at the progression of your physical health, though, but also look at the growth of your character and how you've grown in the person that you are! The heartaches and joys we face in the day to day process of suffering are priceless treasures that can only come through trials! That's why James says "count is all joy when you face trials and tribulations" (ref. Jms. 1:2), because what is being molded in you is an incredible treasure chest of wonder and glory from the Father alone! And if it's of God, you know it has to be unimaginably wonderful, right?

Sorry for getting on a little of a soap box, but that just bubbled out of me as I was writing to you! Let this encourage you; it's a Word from your Father, Who loves you and has called you to a divine and awesome purpose. You may not see what it is, but HE does! And it is so so good! He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you could ever dare to hope ask or think! And those of us, who have been called to a walk a road of suffering are in good company! Look at Job, Joseph, Ruth, Daniel, Jeremiah, Paul, and above all, Jesus! Their lives were comprised of suffering, and their rewards were immeasurably great! In fact, the Lord included their stories in the Bible, His WORD to use as examples to not only help His people fight the good fight of faith, but to also be used in the very book/letter that shows us who He is! WOW! Isn't that incredible?!

You hang in their, friend! I don’t know what God has in store for you, but if you keep walking, keep rejoicing, keep persevering, you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Blessings, friend, and have a wonderful week!

Jenness"

Prayer Request

Dear Readers,

I know it has been a while since I have written, but this entry is a little different. I like to ask all of you, those, who have been praying for me, to take a moment and pray for another. Her name is Kristen; I went to high school with her, and she has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer; she is in her late 20s. If you click on the title of this entry, you will be able to access a support website, which has been setup for her. If not: go to this link to learn updates or to even post an encouragement message: http://kickit4kriket.com/kriket/

Also lift up her family members in prayer as well, more specifically Kerry (her mom). As my parents and I know, sometimes, going through seasons of illness is far more difficult for the family members than the one, who is actually going through the suffering. Thank you so very much! The Lord does hear all of our prayers!

Jenness