Giving Thanks For Suffering...the Will of God

Aug. 2, 1999

II Thess.5:18

In everything give thanks: for THIS is the WILL of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

THIS that I am experiencing right now - the hungering and lack of sleep last night and an aching, hurting, fatigued body this morning - Is THIS Your will for me? THIS - the cutting off of my acidophilus and enzymes - Is THIS Your will for me? THIS - the putting off of
doing my sauna treatments for another day or more because of the weakness of my body and the lack of full recovery from last week's plugged milk ducts - Is THIS Your will for me? THIS - broken water pipes this morning so that I cannot even do "hot bath" treatments today - Is THIS Your will for me? Yes, Lord, it IS Your WILL - And THIS is the will of God concerning me today, also - that I GIVE THANKS for all these things! Everything that happens to me - every word spoken to me - every moment of lost sleep - every moment of discomfort or pain is Your WILL concerning me. You are a sovereign God, and although I may not know all the reasons WHY, I can rest in Your love and know that You have ordained it all for my GOOD!

Thank-You for giving me some of the reasons WHY this morning First, I guess You wanted me to write this meditation, not only for myself, but maybe for others as well. Second, maybe You are giving me this experience to prepare me in some way to someday comfort those who
suffer with not enough water for treatments, no medicines, etc. Little did I know 12 years ago when my little Timothy died that the deep pain I experienced then would help me to comfort my dear friend today whose son is dying of cancer, and maybe someday I will be able to comfort another in my "current shoes." Third, You want me to learn to surrender totally to Your will, patiently giving thanks for my suffering – knowing that "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28) Yes, ALL things - even my suffering this day is for my GOOD. Yes, even sleepless hours with aching, hungering, burning body is easier to bear now with practice and Your grace. Surely You are working something good in me. Thank-You, Lord!