There are so many emotions and thoughts racing through my mind lately that I cannot sometimes function correctly. It’s a combination of jumbled feelings about certain people who I still want to trust that they can breakthrough this slump/apathetic/critical stage and become the people I saw potential in, and so many disastrous events that have affected me in a personal level. I can’t keep myself from thinking about it so often, but I know that I could sure use some prayer and encouragement. There’s also the fact that I feel like I am still in this reflective state about the things I experienced in Japan, but not having many good/deep talks with people about…everything that happened.
Sometimes words are not enough to express how I feel, which is why I think I’m so quiet and more task-oriented. I wish there were more things I can do around where I live, something where I can be active or just even get out of the mundane and routine life that I have been living since I have come back to California.
This past Sunday, I really enjoyed Pastor James’ sermon about “Why Can’t Life Be Easy.” The line that I have actually heard before, but reminded again of is when he said “the point of life is not to live it ‘easy’ but to live it ‘well’” I want to live according to God’s commands, but a lot of times it’s hard, I just hope that I won’t abandon God and all that I have learned through Christianity, but to persevere through hardship and remember that it builds up character.
Romans 5:3-5
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
I choose to live in hope that God knows what’s going on and that even in the midst of catastrophe that God can still work in ways that we can never understand. Whether people agree with me or not, that is just how I have decided to live. Trust in God and lean not on my own understanding, because that will get me nowhere.
I am praying for the people of Japan and all that is affected by this tragedy. I know my friends in Osaka are not physically affected by the tsunami and the bigger part of the earthquakes, but I know they are still emotionally and even mentally affected by this whole situation. God, may Your peace be over them and covering them with Your healing hands.
All of you at J-House and Japan, I wish I was there with you during this time of hardship. 日本のために僕は祈ります！皆がんばって下さい
Just now I was watching a video clip of Corrie Ten Boom on youtube.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard of her?
She and her family hid Jews during the Holocaust and in the end was found and sent to a concentration camp.
Her dad and sister died there but her testimonies of God's faithfulness ended with her as a victor and not a victim.
Not surprising that all of God's endings for His children end in triumph.
I only mention this because in her biography, The Hiding Place, she recounts of her experience with a nurse at church, the very nurse that treated her sister so cruelly!
When the Holocaust was over, Corrie found her worst enemy in the least likely of places, and she said there was a war raging in her heart. "Lord, I cannot forgive her." She couldn't on account for what she had done to her beloved sister.
But then, peace was granted by God through the very verse you posted :), "God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit."
A supernatural work took place in her heart, and she was able to forgive her enemy and even share the gospel with her, the nurse was so compelled to believe in the love of God for it so undeniably was made evident to her through Corrie.
That was a huge tangent but it's a really good biography is what I'm trying to say lol and is available at the library :)
Kevo, take heart, as the song goes, "I am not skilled to understand, what God has willed what God has planned, I only know at His right hand stands One who is my Savior"
And you are too precious to Him, for He didn't spare His own son for you, that He should let you slip or drown in your affliction.
Praying for your perseverance!
Keep John 16:33 close to your heart when the world's calamities seems too much to bear ,
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Peace be with you, Kevo, Jesus is victor!