Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Perplexed, Persecuted, Struck Down...but not destroyed

As I prayed about what to write for this post...God made it pretty clear that II Corinthians 4 was what He was speaking to my heart. Not only was it one of my daily journal readings, but it was also (after specifically praying for a sign), the very next scripture passage to look up in my Beth Moore Esther homework.
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." II Cor 4:8-12

For those of you following my most precious friend Kim's blog, http://bevinsfamily.blogspot.com/, you know that this has been quite an emotional week. It has been a time of questioning and a time of confusion. As my friend Debbie put it, our reality is not lining up with our theology.

However, even when that is the case, we are not to turn our backs on God. I tried to really wrap my mind around that very idea...the idea of abandoning my faith, and let me tell you, it was frightening! It only lasted, well...about one minute.

Even in the toughest and most trying of times, I simply cannot imagine going through them without the Lord. He is truly my Rock and my Redeemer.

Now, that being said...I can still question what has happened, I can be angry about what happened, I can even throw a "holy fit" as Beth Moore has termed it. And, I believe I have probably done just that.

Betryal has taken place...however, we have to keep in mind, it was not God who has betrayed...it was fallen man. The situation actually reveals even more clearly of why we need God. He is truly THE one and only source of faithfulness in this world. Everything, and everyone else, will eventually let us down.

So my prayer is for all of us to not "lose heart" as the scripture states, but to instead try with all our might to focus on the eternal...the what's to come...the forever.

As Job said after literally losing everything...his family, his land, his health..."I know that my Redeemer lives." (Job 19:25)

May we take in those words and breathe a sigh of relief. No matter what, He is who He says He is.

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6 comments:

Ro said...

Katie, That was beautiful! I'm in tears. I've been in the spot of abandoning my faith and it lasted more then a minute and let me tell you it was scary and I NEVER, NEVER want to go back there again. I know God has redemmed that time in my life and I have learned some hard lessons. Your post just really struck a cord and I want to thank you for posting it!!! I'm reminded that I can tell God just how mad I am, and He'll let me. I'm just crying out to Jesus, there's nothing else to do. Praying for Kim and all of her family tonight, rest for their bodys.

L stewart said...

Amazingly written! I heard 2 songs tonight on the radio.... one right after the other. "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin and "My Redeemer Lives" by Nicole C. Mullin. Truly Amazing!!! We will rise and our REDEEMER does Live!!!!

Love You ~ Lindsay

@nnie said...

Katie - your words are healing words for all of us. I don't know this family, but feel like I do through their history and common friends. My goodness, it is so hard to understand why this would happen to THEM, but your testimony is a blazing reminder of the reality of our Christian walk. thank you.

LauraD said...

Thanks, Katie.

Becki Francy said...

So beautifully put...especially the part about it being man that betrayed them (us)....it wasn't God....I do believe he allows these things to happen. And I am okay with that...but again as much pain as there has been, I can't go through it without him....I move on knowing there is a purpose, a meaning.....thank you for such a beautiful post.

Michelle said...

Very well put. I agree totally with what you have said.