“Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.” Psalm 119:143

Suffering is an unavoidable part of life in this sin-warped world;

But we know that you, Lord God, are the One who allows what suffering comes to us,

regulating it according to what we need to grow and give you glory,

as well as according to

what we can bear with your grace.

The Truth is, In the suffering that comes,

you have reasons,

you have goals,

you have growth,

you have privileges for us.

And we have the responsibility to

flee to you when in trouble,

turn to your Word,

take up and use your grace,

offer the sacrifice of thanksgivg

praise and rest in you,

and embrace what comes as opportunity to bring you glory.

Therefore, I praise you:

• for your wisdom, which is far above our understanding;
• for your grace, which is more than enough;
• for your compassion, which provides all we need;
• for your love, which you pour out on us every moment.

May we  embrace suffering, like Paul; he wrote:

“… I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 For 12:9

Picture from jesus-our-blessed-hope.com: Take heart! What we have suffered pales next to  Paul’s experience; we will be given grace just as he was!