Why Until Then?

 

Pain is inevitable in life.  Whether you have lost loved ones through death, suffered from illness,  or had something else very tragic happen to you there are seasons of enduring and coping.  There are the in between times where you are waiting for an answer to prayer or God's victory in your circumstances. This blog is for those very seasons.  The church doesn't always teach coping mechanisms for how to deal with pain in your life.  There seems to be a magic wand mentality where you are to just give your cares and concerns over to God and POOF all pain is vanquished.  This just isn't the case.  We tend to associate admitting our pain as a weakness or even a faith issue.  I admit to falling into this trap of thinking for many years.  As a pastor's wife I felt that I couldn't share my issues of infertility because it meant I didn't trust God enough to heal me.  How could I talk about what I was going through when I was supposed to be praying for and encouraging others in their own personal battles.  Although there are many scriptures in the Bible that talk about giving God your burdens, anxiety and pain there are others too that emphasize enduring. Some pain is temporary and those scriptures of "casting all your cares upon the Lord" are a necessity during those seasons.  But there is deep pain that may be endured that is not seasonal.  It's the kind that lasts for all of our days on this earth.  When someone close to you dies-a parent, a child, a sibling, a best friend there isn't a complete healing for the grief you suffer. The emptiness of their presence in your life is a constant. It isn't an injury that will heal or an illness that will be treated with prescription drugs. 

My husband and I have battled infertility for the past 8 years.  We long for a child of our own to share our life and love with.  It's a pain that is present every day.  Some days it's more intense than others.  We have endured medical testing, fertility drug treatments, pregnancy failures and miscarriage.  Although we are still trusting God for our miracle and even a complete healing in my body we are still in our waiting season.  We are in our "until then" time of seeking God and trusting Him with our future.

I hope this blog will help others who are in similar seasons of coping with pain. I hope it will ease anxiousness in the waiting process of finding hope and victory again in your situation. Life can be tough and the pain can even seem unbearable, but there is good news-our suffering is limited to this life. God has promised us eternal life where we will know no pain or fear. While facing your trials God is completing a work in you as we speak that you can not fathom. You may be at a point that you are thinking of giving up but I am encouraging you today that in Christ you can make it! I am challenging us all to press on-to finish our race as in 2 Timothy 4:7. Below are some of my favorite verses regarding enduring.  I encourage you to read through them and I pray that you find comfort and peace in any tough situation you may be facing today.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

"For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him." Psalm 22:24

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12-13