Grace In Suffering by Kara Tippetts

[Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

“Kara’s Collection: Grace in Suffering”

"Suffering is the place where what our hearts really believe is tested. Suffering is the place that puts heat on the places we have given our strength to in our living. Suffering often comes to the strong and is met with bitter anger. It isn’t the suffering that causes the anger but the taking of strength..." Posted by Kara Tippetts, March 27, 2014; click here for complete article.

After I read Kara’s article, I thought about what God told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9; but I am writing out verses 7, 8, & 10 also:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition – AMPC):

⁷ And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ([a] a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.

⁸ Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me;

⁹ But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [b]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may [c]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

¹⁰ So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [[d]in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful [e]in divine strength).

 

When we are suffering, let us not cry out to God because we are losing OUR strength, OUR control of things, but let us cry out to God for His strength; that is the only way we will obtain God's strength! When we are weak, have given up trying to be in control of our situation, THEN God can and will, show Himself strong in our lives! 

Let us stop fooling ourselves, we have no strength and is in control of absolutely nothing; we can do nothing and is nothing, without God!! But with God, ALL things are possible; IF we believe in God and believe what He says (Matthew 19:26; Philippians 4:13)! When we are weak, have given up trying to be in control of our situation, THEN God can and will, show Himself strong in our lives; in our situations! 

Let us grab hold of God's agenda for our lives, let go of our own, and let Him direct our paths! When we seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness (what is right in God's eyes), all the things we want, will come to past (as long as they are God's will for our lives)! If you don't know what the will of God is for your life, ask Him-God has a plan for each of us!

I suggest you read Kara's complete article on "Grace in Suffering;" I posted the link at the beginning, but here it is again: click here for article. Kara passed March 22, 2015, from breast cancer; to the end, she believed God! Click here, to read about Kara and part of her journey; it will ins.... 

 

Click Here For PDF Version

God bless you all,

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

 

Footnotes & Reference for 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:

1. 2 Corinthians 12:7 James Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.
2. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Two Greek texts so read.
3. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
4. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
5. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) – www.biblegateway.com

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