However, to fear suffering and trouble debilitates our life. Fear of any sort paralyzes and prevents us from enjoyment of the present~ where God is! God is our present reality and in Him is our joy, peace and place of comfort and rest.
Further, as said in Streams in the Desert (if you are reading today): "There is divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural power in it . . . our whole being lies perfectly still under the hand of God . . . a quietness of eternity settles down into the whole being; the tongue grows still . . . every atom of our nature is like the placid Galilee under the omnipotent feet of our Jesus."
Not too shabby a result of allowing Jesus to take us wherever we need to go~ even in trouble and suffering! He becomes our OVERCOMER. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
The atmosphere is different here
love banishes fear,
sweet smells like honeycomb
fill the air~
I am aware of Him
as birds sing
sun warms limbs,
a gentle breeze blows
cool through branches;
grace permeates this place
where glory dwells
and angels linger 'round
the Throne~ eternal Home.
Who could have known
that suffering would uproot
from here~ to there,
to be near to Him?
Janie Seltzer