Sanka, Ya Dead? Yeah Man.

OK, that was a quote from the movie Cool Runnings if you didn't get the title. But we are becoming defeated. It seems like everyone around me is sick with illness of some sort-myself included. Not only that but 2 people close to me are in the hospital recovering from surgeries. And not only that...2 families I know of are mourning an unexpected loss of a loved one this weekend. And not only that...3 people I know personally and 2 other acquaintances are enduring the suffering of watching someone they love face an eternal illness. What is going to be the next "not only that"? Is it just me? Or are illness and hardship lurking in every corner? I am not trying to be negative as I write this. My faith is strong and no matter what happens, I believe it's all part of God's plan. But we sure seem to be hard headed that God would have to send such pain and suffering to get our attention and I think this is just a glimpse of what is to come. Please don't take that the wrong way. I am not in any way saying that the people suffering have done something disobedient or something horrible to deserve what they are experiencing. What I am trying to say is that I have spoken one on one with several of the folks mentioned above and I am trying to help them realize that we don't know the answers for why God works the way He does. We, as humans, want to question and doubt and blame. All He requires of us in these situations is that we put our faith in Him and we endure the storm. He is in control. He can see the end result. He can see past the pain and suffering and He knows what He is doing. We may never know. That's the difference between how we see it and how He sees it. The timeframe we suffer through, and the blink of an eye it is relation to eternity. We know that's how it works though. The questions we have to ask ourselves are: Are we living a life that glorifies Him no matter what we are facing? That's a hard one for us "Negative Nellies". Are we truly believing there is a divine reason for the hardship? Most importantly, are we trusting and patient enough to let His plan unfold? A passage the guides have the privilege to say in Judgement House is from Revelation chapter 7. It says, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." I can't say that without crying. All is said and done, we will suffer no more, we will question no more, we will grieve no more, we will cry no more. Amazing. Are you strong enough to tough it out until God reaches out to you, places his hand on your face, and wipes away every...EVERY tear from your eyes? I can say that I have never experienced the kind of suffering some of these folks are going through. But I pray already-because I know that day will come-that I have the faith and the understanding to endure the storm...for His glory. And I hope I focus on knowing that there will be a day when I will not even remember what pain felt like. I pray for these people I've mentioned, and if you would, please say a prayer for them as well. God knows who they are. Thank you.