It is Well.

Can a suffering actually be a blessing?

We know that in the Bible it says suffering produces endurance, and endurance strengthens our character. The question remains: how can we strive to be okay in the moment – through the suffering, the hurt, the struggle – even though we know that ultimately it will be all for good?

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.Romans 5: 3-4

When we look at Romans 5: 3:4 we’re told that we should “glory in our sufferings.” According to Merriam Webster, the word glory as a verb means “to exalt with triumph, or rejoice proudly.” Now I don’t know about you, but when I’m going through a hardship, my first thought is not “whoooo let me rejoice about this!” It’s typically followed by an overflow of emotions and a feeling of defeat. We’re human, and we constantly fall short of what God asks of us. But the blessing in it is, God knows that. & He knows that even when we feel miserable and hurt, that he’s got a plan through it all. Our cry out to Him should constantly be “God, I don’t understand the reason for all this pain, but I understand that you are Almighty, that you are good, and you have a purpose for everything.”

Let’s talk about being “content” in a time of pain and panic. Philippians 4: 11-13 says this:

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4: 11-13

How can we remain content no matter the circumstance?

I’ve recently struggled through this, and I say this with pure honesty, it’s one of the hardest things to do. Lately, I had been having difficulty understanding the “why” of God’s decisions. He led me to follow a decision, and then it didn’t pan out the way I envisioned it, or the way he Visioned it to me. I kept asking “why would you lead me there and then elsewhere?” “why didn’t this work?” “why would you tell me to hold on to something and then still take it?” and more. The lack of understanding the answers to the “why” questions hurt to the core. But in this time, I still prayed for a sense of clarity and refinement and stillness in my heart. And though I was still going through the pain of it, I felt the most peace over this situation. Like even though I didn’t get my answers, the Holy Spirit held out its arms and said “I got you, we’ll get through it together.” & so, it was well. Through the following weeks, I had ups and downs, and recently had a moment of weakness where I completely broke down. I called on my girls (side – I love you all so much), and they brought me back to that peace I initially had. That’s one thing I love about my Godly girlfriends, they speak life into me, and they remind me how good the Father really is when the world has me down. & in that moment, it is well again. The challenge is, when that moment is over, how do I keep my level of content in Him? While I am nowhere near perfect or where I want to be, here are some things I challenge myself to do when I need to remember to be content in any situation:

1. Prayer before panic. In prayer I find that I end up pouring everything in me, but at the same time, release whatever I am feeling to the One that controls it all. Sometimes its “Help me, Father.” Other times, it’s “okay God, take this pain, take this sadness, take this worry, and let it pass from me. This isn’t your will for me. I’m trusting you to help guide me from here.” In consistently turning to prayer, you have less time to give in to the panic.

2. Journal. I love to write. Sometimes its jumbled thoughts and jumbled words, but I find that the best way to be completely open with my feelings and thoughts is to write them down. When I’m dealing with something, I will write it down to vision it clearly. Is this a situation I’m overreacting to? Is this something that I need more help with? In writing, I can identify the pain, and clearly ask God to come into those places in my heart.

3. Worship. Worship music does a renewal in my heart like none other. Do I still cry every time I hear Taya Smith sing “Oceans?” Absolutely. But sometimes, even more than that, I get the messages I need to hear in the music that comes. When I’m still and I’m listening to the words of the Bible flow sweetly through song, I notice there are so many ways the Holy Spirit comes to speak to me.

4. Reach out. Let me tell you something, it is great to have people that support you in life. Especially people that support your spiritual journey. When I’m dealing with a situation and I don’t know how to respond, I reach out to my Godly girlfriends. They don’t just say “I’m here for you.” They say “You are a daughter of the Most High. You are destined for beauty because He says so. There is no thing that can come between you and the plan God has for you.” These soul sisters constantly are reminding that no matter what I’m feeling – joy, sadness, fear, etc. – that they are there for me, and so is God.

Am I saying that I have learned to be content in every situation? Not at all. I have a lot of growing to do. But that’s my faith journey. I need to learn that no matter the circumstance, it is well with my soul. When life isn’t going as planned, it is well with my soul. In every circumstance, God made it so. He placed that situation on my journey so I could learn it is well with my soul. He is good. All the time. & it is well.

“Through it all, my eyes are on you. Through it all, it is well.” “It is Well,” Bethel