Compiled by: Georgeanne Falstrom, Intern
PARISH LAY MINISTRY ACADEMY
TABLE OF CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2006
(Daily readings: Ps 81; 82; 119: 97-120; Gen. 45: 1-15; 1 Cor. 8: 1-13; Mark 6: 13-29)

By Sharon Baker

Scripture: "I have suffered much; renew my life, O Lord, according to your word. Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law." PS 119: 107-109

We all suffer. The pain of grief, unexpected health challenges or difficult life transitions bring hard choices. We look at life’s possibilities and know some suffering will inevitably touch our lives. We find ourselves ill-equipped when the "unexpected" collides into our well-laid plans. Then life, as we know it, becomes redefined.

We naturally do two things in suffering. First, we tighten our hold on the reigns of our lives to maintain control. Next, we fight for our inner "safe and familiar" home. When an unexpected storm obscures our path with torn branches and broken rocks, home becomes our focus. The hurt from torn branches cuts deep and unbearable loneliness blankets the hard, broken rocks. Somehow, some way, we force the branches away from our path, climb over the rocks and with tears of exhaustion our hearts search for any safe shelter. The journey grows too steep and risky

We long for the former days when safe and familiar promised inner peace and balance. Becoming comfortable with not having our plans all "worked out" requires too much faith and energy. We attempt to ease our journey by shortening seasons of suffering with our own solutions. We short-circuit the Lord’s uniquely designed lessons for our lives.

Do we really shorten the suffering? Perhaps, we prolong a life-changing, character-building lesson intended for personal growth and maturity. A lesson He will only have to teach us again. It’s been said He will "fix a fix-for the fix-you fixed". (Get it!) Our independence and self-reliance only interferes with His purposes.

Four rods to keep you grounded in seasonal storms of suffering

Trust the Lord for the chosen duration of the storm.

The Lord designs eternal lessons for growth and maturity, not short, temporal disaster relief programs.

Our loving, forgiving Lord holds us in his arms to comfort our furrowed brows and broken hearts.

He takes us as we are--worn out from pain and exhausted from self-effort.

Prayer: Lord, renew me with your comfort. Remind me of your unconditional acceptance. Pour over my tired heart your forgiving grace. I choose to trust your timing with my plans. When the stormy winds temporarily blind my sight, I will walk by faith. Thank you for never leaving me alone!