HOW CAN WE BE BLESSED DURING SUFFERING?

SUFFERING YET BLESSED

by Paula Mowery

Surely the two words – suffering and blessed – have to be opposites. Suffering is defined as misery, hardships, and pain. Blessed means holy, beautiful, delightful. Blessing means a thing conducive to happiness, approval, favor, benefit, and good.

The dictionary entries for each show a definite contradiction. But, God has a way of making an oxymoron into a quite harmonious pair.

I won’t soon forget the day my mother was diagnosed a second time with breast cancer. In the years since her first bout she had suffered repercussions like additional surgery and a platelet-destroying antibody. Yet, she took it all in stride, knowing that suffering and blessing can occur together.

Today she is healthy but still testifies to how God blessed her during her suffering by allowing her to encourage other women facing breast cancer diagnoses.

“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort – we get a full measure of that, too.” 1 Corinthians 1:3-7 The Message

I have come to learn that God doesn’t waste anything – even our sufferings.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

In my soon to be released book from Pelican Book Group, BE THE BLESSING, I deal with this issue of God using us even through our suffering.

The book is fiction. I don't have a release date for Be The Blessing--a sequel. The Blessing Seer, is available through all ebook distributors and from the publisher, Pelican Book Group. I have a link on my blog. www.paulamowery.blogspot.com

Here’s a short blurb for the book:

  Addy Townsend hadn’t strolled with Conrad or had a vision in five years. Now Conrad has returned to challenge her to be a blessing to those around her. The Holy Spirit begins to nudge her into service in new ways and she follows.

But when she is blindsided with personal problems, can Addy learn to be a willing vessel even in times of struggle and suffering?

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, don’t despair when you must suffer. Remember that God can bring beautiful flowers from the coldest darkest winter. Be on the look-out for His blessings.