BLESSING FROM SUFFERING? ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT.
"On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. . . . Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went . . . many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy . . ." Acts 8:1-8
Let me see if this adds up--death of Stephen + scattering and persecution = joy. Hmm. Not humanly it doesn't. Yet, in the kingdom of God, often our greatest good and thus our greatest joy results from suffering. This was true in the early church and it is still true today. I've seen it in my own life more than once.
Example. About four years ago, our well-conceived retirement income stream dried up and my husband Bob and I began the adventure of living by faith in God's provision. An editing job here, work for our son there, selling one of our many accumulations another month, royalties from my book, an unexpected tax return at just the right time--consistently over these past years, God has provided each month for our needs. We never know how it will happen, but it always does. During this time, we've sold all our expensive toys, our cabin in Lake Tahoe, horses, horse trailer, fifth-wheel, our five acre ranchette with pool in the country. We let go of them as needed, and amazingly, we didn't die. I know you are thinking, why don't you just get a job and work like the rest of us do?
It would be virtually impossible for Bob to hold down even a part time job on a regular basis. Not only is his hearing loss so severe that communication is significantly impaired, but he also has a chronic back problem. On the other hand, I could get a job. I have an education including a couple of credentials and I am in good health. Even though I believe God called me to write, many times I think I should get a job. I could do both. Many people do.
So why don't I?
The stress of waiting for enough money to pay bills sometimes overwhelms me and I cry out to God for direction. "Just tell me where to look for a job. Give me a hint. I'll do whatever you want me to." That's how I pray. Then I look online, in the newspaper, ask people, sometimes turn in resumes and applications, have even gotten so far as interviews at times. But the job offer never comes. Either I have not found the job God wants for me, or He doesn't want me to get a job.
In January of this year, our health insurance bill increased to over two thousand dollars a month. Yes. Two thousand. (If you have insurance through your place of employment, consider yourself immensely blessed.) For us, this increase meant we could no longer afford health insurance. We made the decision to drop it. Scary for two people in their sixties. Now we have to stay healthy until we can get Medicare.
A friend suggested that Bob get his health needs met at the VA. Logical, since he is a veteran of the Viet Nam War, but not something we had ever thought of before. When we went to apply, the lady signing him up asked why didn't he apply for VA Disability based on his hearing loss. Never thought of that before either. But okay. We'll give it a shot. Even if they gave us a couple hundred dollars a month, it would help. We didn't think they would, but we turned in the paperwork. And waited.
Six months later we got a notice saying the review board had granted Bob 100% disability based on his hearing loss. They had reviewed his records from 1966 to 1969 while he served in the Army. When he went into the service, his hearing tested in the normal range. When he came out after serving in the heavy artillery without earplugs, his hearing was impaired. It has steadily worsened.
I cried reading the findings. Only God can take a bad thing, hearing loss, and another bad thing, not enough money to buy health insurance, and create out of that something good. Steady monthly income.
Oh, I forgot to mention. The amount the VA awarded Bob, almost exactly matches the amount of our need. Only God . . .
Dear Mrs. Leggett,
I heard about your writings from my dear and best friend, Stephanie Hover. As I read your blog about BLESSING FROM SUFFERING? ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT, I related to all yo had to say. I lost my 16 year old daughter Stacie twelve years ago in a domestic violence case. She was murdered in an attempted rape. He also attacked her younger sister, Kristie, age 14, who survived.
Your blog about God's blessings was very moving. I lost my job last September 2010,and considered it a huge blessing. My husband on the other hand was devasted. I'm now working full time for the foundation, have started a prison ministry and so much more all by the grace and to the glory of God! He is providing for all our needs! He is bringing in donations that allow me to travel and share my testimony of forgiveness, Hope and Healing!
What an awesome God we serve! Thank you for your writings. And when you feel uncertian that God called you to write, remember God called you! And your gift is writing! Thank you! You are truly a blessing. When God closes a door, He opens another door, wide open!
Please visit our websites:
www.staciefoundation.org
www.healmywounds.org
www.silencednomore.org
God Bless you!
Lorraine
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Lorraine,
My heart aches for the loss you have suffered. I cannot imagine having one of my children taken from me in such a horrible manner. Yet your story is one of comfort and peace. Only God can create that in a heart. Look at what your sorrow has produced in your life. I commend you.
God does indeed provide. He wants us to know that side of Him. I visited your website. It is an inspiration.
May God continue to bless the work of your hands. May He show Himself faithful to your husband as well. Thank you for writing.
Blessings,
Catherine Leggitt
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