Lately I’ve been wrestling with the mere concept of loss. I don’t want to get into the logistics of it, but it has definitely been the most intricate, life-changing time I have ever been through. I have been crying out to our father multiple times a day asking him for help, guidance, and understanding. In the midst of this I have found moments of peace and security in him. I don’t want these times of peace and security to be just derisory moments (not saying these moments are inadequate to me, but I know that they can last longer), but long-lasting periods that magnifying Christ in my life. Because when Christ is ultimately magnified in your life those times of peace, security, wholeness, etc. are there as well.
The apostle Paul has always been a huge influence of mine. I enjoy reading his letters especially his letter to the Romans. This morning I was reading Paul’s result of justification to the Romans in chapter five. One of the most evident and key things that stuck out to me was the cluster of verses regarding trial, tribulation and ultimately perseverance in Christ. Paul writes in verses three through four, “more than that (“that” referring to hope and the justification by faith in Christ Jesus), we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” John Piper writes in his book, Don’t Waste Your Life: this hope that grows and deepens and satisfies through suffering is the hope of verse two in Romans, the “hope of the glory of God.” We were made to see and savor this glory. And God, in love, will use whatever trials are necessary to intensify our savoring of his glory. I know that with Christ and Christ alone this time of tribulation will indeed intensify my hope for the glory of God and I am willing to accept this time of character building. If it ultimately brings me closer to Christ and intensifies my love for him, then bring it.
It’s always interesting trying to start off a piece knowing that below each word you type lies an abyss of whiteness screaming to be filled with letters, punctuation, and meaning. Lately, I’ve been reluctant to tackle this whiteness, this unseen space, this fear of critique. I’m not exactly sure why I have been so reluctant to this, but I feel that it needs to end and end hastily.
