During that time, I couldn't stand to be in prayer circles of other moms sharing their requests. I had a hard heart towards them and refused to pray for a picky eater, teething, potty training issues, or a sick pet. I would think, "Are you kidding; is that the most dire thing in your life you deal with?!?!"
Thankfully, the Lord began to show me that I had a pride issue of wanting everyone to suffer like me and not wanting anyone to have it better than I did. Also, He showed me my discontentment to the circumstances that He allowed in my life.
Praise the Lord that my heart has been softened and now I share the burdens of my sisters in Christ and strive not to compare my circumstances to them. God uses each of our unique trials to perfect us (James 1:2-4) and conform us to his image (Romans 8:28-29). Through His grace, we can lay aside our concerns and truly "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15) even if their load is a lot lighter than ours and they receive the blessing that we've been longing for.
Trust Him; He is doing something greater than you could imagine (Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 55:9). Many times that greater thing is transforming our mind to know His good, acceptable, and perfect will (Romans 12:2). As we persevere through our difficult circumstances, May we find much joy in being God's beloved image bearers of Christ!
5 comments:
I have struggled with the same issue, but in another area. Whenever someone talks about the death of say Nana who is 102. Yeah, my sis died at 18, but lets all mourn nana who lived a very long full life.
Obviously God had to work on my heart to get my compassion back. :)
This is such a good reminder to be clothed with compassion and humility as we love others in the body of Christ! Thank you for these encouraging words today.
Caryn,
I love how honest you are in this...and it's a strange balance...because it's good when you're in the "teething phase" and that seems like a big deal to have the reality check of what others suffer through (that's one reason why I read missionary biographies and subscribe to Voice of the Martyr)--on the flip side I know when Selah died I struggled with a hardness...towards things that seemed trivial to me. But I love where God took you through this journey and the verses you quoted. I've found myself lingering over the same ones...letting God knead them into my heart. Because in light of His suffering...or that of many others...what is mine? And the point really isn't that is it? It's about how we take whatever He allows and how we turn to Him in the midst of it...that brings Him glory. Still--I want you to know that your story and your love for your son...and the joyful things about his life (I have come back to that post you wrote in February 3 times already)...they do help direct hearts to an eternal perspective.
This was really good, Caryn. If there is one thing I have learned as a mother is that it is His refiner's fire no matter the circumstance. He uses the struggles that we face as mothers to shape us more like Jesus. This was a good reminder for me today. Thank you.
Oh, thank you for that word of truth for my heart!
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