3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
In this life, we will encounter suffering and brokenness. And, I'm thankful that we serve a God who sustains us in our adversity and desires to repair the broken heart. While He will respond as we call to Him in the midst of our pain, at times He will use other people to minister love, grace, and hope to us. And, He will use us to share the unconditional, unlimited love of Christ - so it's important that we are ready. Perhaps out of our experience, we can give help to those who are struggling.
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In 2nd Corinthians 6, we see the apostle Paul lists some forms of suffering that he endured, but then pivoted to talk about the work of God - a great reminder for us that while we will suffer in this life, there are also the resources of the Lord to sustain us:
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left...
The news comes all too often to people - the cancer diagnosis, the sudden emergency, the unexpected, the disturbing, and the challenging.
One of America's biggest musical stars made the announcement this week that her mother has cancer. According to a Tumblr post, Taylor and her brother had been encouraging her mom to be checked for health issues, and as she wrote yesterday:
Then Taylor added,
Later in the letter, she writes:
Jesus lived a perfect life, and in the midst of paying the price for our sins as our perfect sacrifice, He quoted Scripture and acknowledged that the sin placed upon Him, the Lamb of God, separated Him from His Father, who cannot look upon sin. Praise His holy name!
Jamie continues:
Jamie Grace saw an opportunity to reach out and offer some words of encouragement to a fellow artist, words that can have relevant meaning for all of us when we encounter struggles or learn of the struggles of others. Some words to consider:
Transparency. Sometimes we can put on that "game face." Sometimes it's necessary; sometimes it's a coping mechanism. Perhaps we don't want others to see inside. But, the truth is, as we are transparent with one another, we can share the love of Christ with each other and build one another up in the Lord.
Another word that comes to mind is sensitivity. When others hurt or struggle, it's important to recognize that pain and allow God's Spirit to use us to minister to that person. That may be done with words; I would say that often it is done with silence - in other words, listening to a person share and participating in the ministry of presence.
And, a final word for this day is dependency. While there may be a place for us to be dependent on one another, we recognize that ultimately we are to be dependent on God. Jamie Grace wrote that she was carried by the understanding that she is loved by a King who died and rose for her - and who understands her. He walks with us - when we have pain, when we ponder, when we are perplexed. He desires to bring strength and comfort to our hearts in our darkest moments or our deepest struggles - beyond and below our "game face," He calls us to depend on Him.
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left...
The news comes all too often to people - the cancer diagnosis, the sudden emergency, the unexpected, the disturbing, and the challenging.
One of America's biggest musical stars made the announcement this week that her mother has cancer. According to a Tumblr post, Taylor and her brother had been encouraging her mom to be checked for health issues, and as she wrote yesterday:
Usually when things happen to me, I process them and then write music about how I feel, and you hear it much later. This is something my family and I thought you should know about now.She wrote, "The results came in, and I’m saddened to tell you that my mom has been diagnosed with cancer. I’d like to keep the details of her condition and treatment plans private, but she wanted you to know."
Then Taylor added,
She wanted you to know because your parents may be too busy juggling everything they’ve got going on to go to the doctor, and maybe you reminding them to go get checked for cancer could possibly lead to an early diagnosis and an easier battle… Or peace of mind in knowing that they’re healthy and there’s nothing to worry about. She wanted you to know why she may not be at as many shows this tour. She’s got an important battle to fight.Christian musical artist Jamie Grace responded to the news on the #ImAFighter website, with an open letter to Taylor Swift. She shares a bit of her history, including her mom's ongoing health issues and her own struggle with Tourette Syndrome. That website, #ImAFighter, is Jamie's site that is devoted to those struggling with Tourette. She opens up with the idea of a "game face" that people in the public eye will often put on. Jamie writes, "We’re not being fake… not lying about what’s going on… merely doing what we have to do to be who we’re called to be."
Later in the letter, she writes:
To anyone feeling hurt or frustrated or confused or upset or alone or “simply” annoyed by the struggles we face in this life – you’re not alone.
We all have to put on a game face and it’s not close to fair but know that you’re never alone. Someone out there has a game face as strong as yours and when we can open up and be real with each other… when we can love on each other and welcome each other into our lives… when we can hold each other when we’re crying, those game faces will start to fade and our realness will start to change each other’s lives.Jamie Grace continues:
When we are real and honest and open, that’s when lives are changed and though your heart may be heavy Taylor, by a simple Tumblr post today, you continued to reach the hearts of many.She then relates some Biblical truth in the midst of her own struggles:
Because I’m a Christian and am in the public eye, people typically ask me, “What’s your favorite bible verse?” I love in Psalms where it says, “Weeping may endure for a nigh [sic] but joy comes in the morning” so that’s usually what I say. However, I found my favorite verse when I was 11 years old.
It was months after being diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. I heard Matthew 27:45 as it talks about when Jesus is hanging on the cross. As Christians we believe that Jesus was dying for our sins as a sacrifice that God (His Father) made so that we could live in Heaven when we die. We also believe that Jesus is perfect and without flaw. As He is on the cross, however, He experiences a moment of question as He asks His Father, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”Jamie says that's her favorite verse, "...Not because it’s somewhat haunting or even close to depressing but because it’s real. The Man who I believe to be the King of the World felt broken…" And she contends that when He called out to God..."In that moment He became relatable to the 6th grade girl… the close-to-giving-up college student, the overwhelmed wife and the 20-something year old pop singer who just wants to go home with her mom and make everything okay. He. felt. forsaken."
Jesus lived a perfect life, and in the midst of paying the price for our sins as our perfect sacrifice, He quoted Scripture and acknowledged that the sin placed upon Him, the Lamb of God, separated Him from His Father, who cannot look upon sin. Praise His holy name!
Jamie continues:
The only thing that has carried me through the last 12 years (my Tourette diagnosis, that journey and now my mom’s health) has been my Faith (and the community my family has found in the midst of our fight). I am carried by the understanding that I am not only loved by a King who died for me and rose for me but – who understands me.
There is nothing greater in this life than to be loved… and understood.What a compassionate and grace-filled response, offering the love of Christ and the truth of Scripture, identifying with someone in their struggles.
Jamie Grace saw an opportunity to reach out and offer some words of encouragement to a fellow artist, words that can have relevant meaning for all of us when we encounter struggles or learn of the struggles of others. Some words to consider:
Transparency. Sometimes we can put on that "game face." Sometimes it's necessary; sometimes it's a coping mechanism. Perhaps we don't want others to see inside. But, the truth is, as we are transparent with one another, we can share the love of Christ with each other and build one another up in the Lord.
Another word that comes to mind is sensitivity. When others hurt or struggle, it's important to recognize that pain and allow God's Spirit to use us to minister to that person. That may be done with words; I would say that often it is done with silence - in other words, listening to a person share and participating in the ministry of presence.
And, a final word for this day is dependency. While there may be a place for us to be dependent on one another, we recognize that ultimately we are to be dependent on God. Jamie Grace wrote that she was carried by the understanding that she is loved by a King who died and rose for her - and who understands her. He walks with us - when we have pain, when we ponder, when we are perplexed. He desires to bring strength and comfort to our hearts in our darkest moments or our deepest struggles - beyond and below our "game face," He calls us to depend on Him.
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