My friend Don has been a quadriplegic for 39 years and the guy is nothing short of inspirational – I need the example of guys like him. He’s been a special encouragement to me as of late, since he has been persevering through so many ups and downs – Don has been in and out of bed for several years battling against pressure sores. I always shiver a bit when I hear that he has to go to the hospital…
You know as well as I do that a hospital can be a pretty frightening place these days. Especially for a spinal cord injured person who has to go to the hospital with an open wound -- there are just too many super germs in a hospital nowadays; it's so risky! Well, lately Don has been sending me email updates and requests for prayer, and I was struck by one comment of his.
Don said, "Dark spirits have been battling over me and at times it feels as though I'm going to cave in. But when it comes to bad things, I always say, ‘You know, I look forward to looking back at this.’ And you know what, eventually I am looking back."
Boy, is that is true. Time is a funny thing when you’re in the middle of suffering. Time seems to drag on so long and you just never seem to get out of it. But the Bible says that even “this, too, will pass.” And before you know it, the pain is behind you, things seem brighter, and your hope is renewed. And half the joy of coming out of the pain is simply being able to look back on it. Thankfully it’s behind you. It’s done. It’s over. God's work in it is finished.(Now I do realize for some, the pain of loss and grief is so deep that it won’t feel like it is behind you until heaven, but still even then you know it won’t last forever. It will eventually end. Whether it ends in heaven, or halfway through the year, you really can look forward to looking back on the suffering.)
It’s why the apostle was able to say in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” Did you hear that? The Bible admits that, yes, we will have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, but it’s only for “a little while.” It’s only for a short time compared to the all-surpassing joys and pleasures of eternity.
My friend, Don, is still struggling with those pressure sores. I don’t know how he keeps his bright attitude. Well, then again, I do know how he keeps it. He’s grabbed hold of 1 Peter chapter 1 and is truly looking forward to the time when he can look back on all of this. So whatever struggles you’re facing today, I would encourage you to do the same. Keep hope alive. Trust in the Savior. Lean on His Word. Draw encouragement from His Spirit. And comfort yourself with the assurance that the pain will only last for a little while. When heaven breaks on the horizon – or maybe sooner – you’ll be able to look back on it all. And that is something to look forward to!
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JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
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