When Sorrow Walked With Me

Friday, January 13, 2006

Recently, I've been on a thoughtful kick about pain and suffering and learning from sorrow and adversity. Partly because a friend's blog brought it up, partly because of my "podcast pastor" Alistair Begg and messages I've chosen to listen to recently.

I am fascinated with the grace that we're shown through suffering...what potential we have to learn from our experiences! And so many thoughts have been provided to me on this, either through scripture or quotes.

Robert Browning wrote:

I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way;
But left me none the wiser,
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow
And ne'er a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me!

- - -

When we shun trials we miss blessings. - Alistair Begg

More spiritual progress is made through failure and tears than is made through success and laughter. - Alistair Begg

And we who believe must remember that God will cradle us.

In Romans 8:18, Paul says, "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

And when Paul prayed for the thorn to be removed from his side, God did not remove it. Why? Because the Lord's answer is all we need: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9a).

I can live with that.