I teach Sunday school in my church congregation.
Because of two recent tragedies in my community, I was concerned about how to approach the lesson this past week.
Surprisingly, or not surprisingly, the lesson was on the Old Testament Book of Job.
Job, who experienced extreme trials and opposition.
I knew that the shared grief of the deaths of two youth, one a beautiful 10-year old girl, and the other an 18-year old young man, was on all our minds and in our hearts.
I invited class members to share their experiences and what they learned from Job this past week.
The Blessing of My Community
I am blessed to live in a community of good, spiritually-minded people who in this class shared insights that were beautiful and profound.
I was uplifted and strengthened by their comments and wish I could share them all with you.
One insight, in particular, has helped me better understand difficult times.
One Purpose of Suffering
This class member spoke of how it is through her hard times that she becomes better acquainted with God.
She spoke of those times of trial as sacred.
Isn’t that an interesting thought?
-Do I allow my times of anguish to be made sacred?
-Do I chose to allow despair to turn me towards God, rather than away?
It has been said, “Sometimes the most important truths are revealed to us in the midst of our deepest anguish.”
Trials
In our trials we are offered the opportunity to choose to come to know God, and in so doing become purified, and strengthened.
Adam Miller, a philosopher and theologian said,
“The expression of despair is not the antitheses of faith…That despair is the raw material for prayer. The stuff out of which our relationship with God is made, not the stuff we have to get rid of before we have a relationship with God…Declarations of despair are part of our religious journey, part of our religious commitment. It’s not the case that you have to avoid feeling sorrow. It’s what we decide to do with that sorrow…We need to give it back to God… As we do so, we are in the process of redeeming that experience of despair.”
My invitation to you is to allow the trials you face to become sacred times of coming to know God.
Much love,
