Feature Article- Lorelle Ebens
It has been 6 months since meeting "Roger" (see my blog "Was Roger an Angel?"). At that time, God was merciful to me in my trials and sent a message of reassurance that He was pleased with me.
I remember another time back in 2001, just as Daniel was regressing into autism, and Adrian was very sick. I was finding it all a bit hard. I remember going into my bedroom, kneeling down and crying it all out to my Heavnely Father. For a split second I felt an arm around my shoulders, and the quiet assurance that He was not going to take away all the difficulties, but He would be there beside me to walk through them with me. That reassurance carried me a long while.
While I treasure these reassurances of God's love and pleasure, God is now leading me to a deeper understanding of myself and how I handle trials.
Yes, our family has had our fair share of trials - even yesterday - our younger son, with autism, had such a bad headache from the "plopping" he gets that he was screaming, crying, throwing things, hitting for 6 hours before he finally dropped off to sleep for the night. Sleep - what a relief!
In my head I have known that God allows difficult times to purify our characters:
Jam 1:2 & 3: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Also, in my head I have known that God will give us the power to endure temptations and difficult times:
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
But in my heart I have a great tendency to indulge in "self-pity" when having trials. The Lord has pointed out to me, that underneath the self-pity and behaviours to comfort myself (because of that self-pity), there is lurking something evil. It is the presence of the venom of the serpent, a taste of the lie fed to Eve in the garden.
The serpent wants me to believe that God has not given me a fair deal, God has made my life too hard. I have found myself saying things like: "It's all too hard," or "Why does life have to be so hard?" or "How much more of this do I have to take?" or "I can't take any more of this!" or even "If life has to go on like this, I'd rather not be around anymore." Am I not questioning God's wisdom in ordering my life? Am I not believing the serpent's lie?
As I have entertained these thoughts, I have believed the serpent's lies about God, and I have become infected with his poison and become diseased with resentment against the way God has led me. This resentment often is masked, is subconscious, is not obvious. But when the Lord has had me look deep within for reasons for my behaviours, resentment has been found.
So lurking beneath self-pity and self-comforting behaviours, lies the evil of resentment against God. This resentment is really an accusation against God's wisdom, an anger at His ordering of my life. Isn't that the way the whole controversy started with Lucifer in Heaven?
I have asked the Lord to forgive me for my anger at Him, for my resentment about the way He has led in my life. I have asked Him to help me to have the "faith of Jesus" and the "mind of Jesus" that I may choose to trust God's leading and submit to the trials as they happen.
I am asking God to help me to fully trust His promises:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
"All that has perplexed us in the providences of God will in the world to come be made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find explanation. The mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered only confusion and broken promises, we shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony. We shall know that infinite love ordered the experiences that seemed most trying. As we realize the tender care of Him who makes all things work together for our good, we shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. " {9T 286.2}
Quoting Gary Hullquist (in a comment to another blog): "Jesus is now my Hero! He's the Captain of our faith. We are not only they who keep the commandments of God, but also have the faith of Jesus, a faith that accepted everything His Father gave him, submitting, resting solely in His care and keeping."
May this be my experience today - and yours too!
Reflections- Adrian Ebens
What is it Worth?
God has bound our hearts to Him by unnumbered tokens in heaven and in earth. Through the things of nature, and the deepest and tenderest earthly ties that human hearts can know, He has sought to reveal Himself to us. Steps to Christ Page 10
Today my youngest son came to me and expressed his desire to go for a walk to the swing tree. Daniel has a vocabulary of about 40 words and they are not well pronounced but we understand them.
The swing is a tyre hanging from a large Gum Tree in the forest about 800 meters from our home. As we walked up the hill together I was thinking about the blessing of being with my son, just he and I walking together.
Just after this he slipped his hand into mine and I smiled as I thought of my son wanting to hold my hand as we walked. I squeezed gently and he squeezed back and we played a little game together squeezing each others hand and laughing.
When we came to the swing, I started to swing Daniel on the tyre. He indicated his wish for me to push harder in his own little way. The delight on his face as he swung through the air without a single care. What is it worth? The delighted smile of innocence. It means everything to me as his father. Time together, my son and I in the forest deep in the woods with the stillness, peace and serenity of God's creation.
I sang to my Saviour of my love to Him for giving me such simple joys. Time with my son and watching him smile with delight. What is it worth? Its worth everything to me.
As we walked back home the light of the sun was streaking through the trees and Daniel pointed to the light and said "Su" and when I said "yes Daniel, the sun" he smiled because he knew I understood what he meant. What is it worth? to know you are understood in a world where most people don't understand, don't know what its like to have your body at war with your mind constantly. I guess its worth a lot to my son. my sweet son.
So I pray to the Father as we climb the hill towards home, when will Daniel be free, when will he talk, when will his body no longer fight with his mind and cause him pain?
Longer than you wish but sooner than you think.
Thank you Father, I believe that soon he will be free!
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