Power in the Midst of Suffering
by Lydia Harris
** Have you ever earnestly prayed for something, only to have your prayer seemingly go unnoticed? Here is a Bible Study that will help you understand better. http://thelife.com/study/unansweredprayer.html?section=prayeranswers
“For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that [God] powerfully inspires within me” (Colossians 1:29).
Read Colossians 1:24-29
While attending a conference, I discovered a suspicious lump on my left shoulder. “You should see your doctor when you get home,” the conference doctor advised in a grave tone.
Fear gripped me. I wanted to pack up and head home immediately. But I was scheduled to teach a workshop on prayer the next day, so I stayed.
I tossed and turned all night, imagining the worst. When morning came, I felt tired and blurry-eyed, not ready to teach. But I knew the topic of prayer was powerful and important. I skipped breakfast and nibbled a dry granola bar while I read my Bible and prayed for strength.
I walked into the classroom on shaky legs, wondering if I could teach without bursting into tears. As I started, however, God began to infuse me with new energy. I gained confidence as I spoke. When I finished, my husband commented, “You gave a strong presentation.” I smiled, knowing God’s powerful energy had worked through me.
The apostle Paul admits that he also struggled. As he pressed on in the midst of suffering, he didn’t toil in his own strength; God’s power worked in him. It almost sounds contradictory to struggle when we have God’s power available. But God expects us to do our part. If I hadn’t pushed myself to step into the classroom, God couldn’t have empowered me to teach.
My lump did turn out to be serious, reminding me that our lives will not be free of struggles and suffering. Still, we can trust that God will give us the strength to live out our special calling for each day.
~ Thank You, Lord, for Your power working within us as we serve You. Give us courage to step out even as we struggle, empowered by Your energy working in us.
Questions: Why does God allow “bad” things to happen to people who are serving Him?
What do you think might have been the result if fear had been allowed to take over?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/lydia-e-harris/
37 Responses to “Power in the Midst of Suffering”
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What Do You Fear?
What do you fear, and why? Is it holding you back from realizing your full potential?
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Good Morning sharonb,
Sorry dear one, I’m not from Tennessee. Orginially I’m from California via New Jersey. However, I have been living in Sydney, Australia for the last 13 years. I would love to see Tennessee some day….God willing maybe He will allow me to visit the States again. Blessings to you, Love, Donna
LINDA R
I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH FRAN WHAT A BLESSING YOU ARE
LOVE
SHARON B
DONNA L IF YOU DON’T MIND ME ASKING, WHAT PART OF TENN. ARE YOU IN? MY FAMILY IS ORGINILLY FROM THERE SMITHVILLE WAS MY MOMS HOME TOWN,SPRINGFIELD WAS MY DADS HOME TOWN AND MY BROTHER WAS BORN IN NASHVILLE. THEY CAME TO OHIO JUST BEFORE I WAS BORN, BUT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOWN THERE AND MY BROTHER AND PARENTS ALL MOVED BACK ALL OF THEM ARE GONE NOW. BUT I DO STILL HAVE COUSINS AND NEFEWS DOWN THERE. MY OLDEST NEFEW IS ON THE NASHVILLE POLICE FORCE. MY BROTHER WAS ALSO ON THE FORCE. SORRY ABOUT THE BAD SPELLING
SHARON B
Thank you Linda R.
I am going to take that hug right now and wrap myself in it as I go into my quiet time. Hugs, even those that come by phone or online, are great things!
God bless you!
Patricia
To All My Wonderful Sisters That The Lord Has Given Me!!! I just want to thank each and everyone of you for your love & words of encouragement, you are all so precious to me, more than you will ever know. This site gives me a reason to get up each morning. I have bipolar depression which is mostly controlled by medication but I can still have my low days and before I had this devotional to look forward to every morning I found it very hard to get out of bed. Now I can hardly wait to get on line and read the devotional & the blog, I am so very thankful for it and all the new friends no, “sisters” God has brought into my life because of this devotional site. May The Lord Richly Bless Each & Everyone Of You! Hugs Linda !!!
Dear sisters in Christ Patricia, Marilyn, DonnaL
it gives me great joy and strength to read your comments of
encouragement! God bless u all and I pray for u all!
Be blessed!
Precious LindaR….
Am adding my prayers to our other sisters here about your earthen one! Weather was bad here earlier..and just now got to read followup comments.. What a delightful person you are..Some of us have been blessed to get to know you personally..and we “realize” what your biological sister is missing! We are all soooooo glad HE sent you and you brighten up many days for the rest of us with your caring, nurturing heart and ways. We are grateful for you!! And one day? The Lord will break whatever “fetter” it is holding her back. We will be in powerful bond of agreement for you )for Francine’s situation, too)….for “breakthroughs” in these earthen situations! Always know what a special treasure you are and how much we all cherish you!! You are the Lord’s loving girl..and am going to pray your sister there comes to realize that, too! We love you!!! (((((((Linda)))))))
DonnaL , loved your words of wisdom. When family rejects us it usually stimulates some inner feelings of places where we have holes in our hearts from past hurts, feelings of rejection and fear. God is love and perfect love casts out fear. It’s a beautiful snow here in Tennessee, kinda like God has blanketed the world in white. I pray you all rest peacefully and I love you all, you are all so special and blessed. Have a good night yall
Carla and Francine, Praying for you both…
LindaR, Love you sister…I know how hard it is when we are rejected by people, especially family. I’ve been there. Anyway, as Christians we will never be rejected by God. Surrending these feelings to Him was very hard for me, but I can now look upward and leave it with Him. He hears your prayer, loves you and has something very special for you. It may not be in our time and waiting for answers is hard, but as Barbara C said these challenges are brought to us to draw us closer to Him. To learn to trust Him and get to know Him on a more deeper level. You are so special LindaR and I for one am proud to call you my friend and sister in Christ. Bless you as you grow to depend on Jesus more and more…I pray that we all continue to grow and grow. Love to you all.
linda r you are my sister in Christ. and i will be praying for your sister to come around i know the Lord cand change her heart
much love
sharon b
Sweet friend and sister, Linda, oh what I would give to have you in my family!! :) Your sister, though a Christian, has allowed Satan to poison her heart, and he has deceived her! His time is limited, and he has turned up the heat on unguarded Christians! The hurt she causes you does not go unnoticed by our Lord! It surely breaks His heart, as well! Please, dear Linda, do not let your sister’s cold response to you obscure your knowledge of who you are in Christ, and what immeasurable worth that is!! In time, she will come to see her hurtful ways, and it will surely grieve her deeply. You are so very loved by all who have shared here, and we are honored to be your ‘sisters’! May our Lord comfort your broken heart, and show you His love through your ‘sisters’ here, until that day comes when He breaks Satan’s yoke on your biological sister!
Francine I would just like to let you know that I know exactly how you feel. I have a sister,she is a Christian that is just two years older than me lives only 35 – 40 minutes away from me & will have Nothing to do with me. I have tried & tried, cried & cried, prayed & prayed. It just breaks my heart & I just don’t understand why God hasn’t answered my prayer. I try to leave it in His hands but I have to be honest it is Hard. Both our parents are gone & I have lost my first husband & a teenage daughter & those I can accept but my sister not wanting to have a relationship with me I just can’t understand. So Francine if it helps any I am going to put you on my prayer list and pray for your fragmented family that it will become one, once again. Hugs Linda!
Carla, I agree with all the others here who have advised that you seek medical evaluation of your dear grandfather — it is true that he may be experiencing some medical problem that has precipitated his erratic behavior and agressive response. As Lydia pointed out, it would be appropriate to notify your grandfather’s children — either your parents or aunts/uncles — of these outbursts, as they may have legal medical guardianship over his care, and may need to make temporary arrangements for their mother. Do what you can to support your parents emotionally, as this must surely be a painful experience for them, as well! Please know that we will be praying for all of you, that God would lead you step by step!
Hi Francine! I would like to encourage you in your struggle to overcome the feelings of rejection within your family. You will not, and can not, make people act as they should. For whatever reasons, some have chosen to withhold their love and relationship from other family members. You are wise to have given it to God for His divine touch! In the meantime, seek God’s power to forgive them their erring ways, and ask Him to open your eyes to those whom He places in your path to share your unreciprocated love with! This is not to say that your heart must cancel it’s reservation for your father and sisters, but you have an enormous capacity to love, and as you wait on your family to discover their destructive ways and for God to redeem their wasted time, you can be used by God to bless others with your sprit of love! Keep praying for your family, loving them, forgiving them, but live your life in freedom from needing them to be what you would like them to be!
Carla, Before any move seek God, rest for a while in his presence and read the word, start in Psalms if you are not sure. Psalm 139 is good. God knows your situation and your Grandfathers. Number one,make sure he is safe, if he is not seek professional help such as a residential facility or call emergency 911 to help. You may want to call a counseling office if this behavior is different, it may be due to the medicine he or she is taking. I will be praying
In regards to the questions aked in today’s devotional…
Questions: Why does God allow “bad” things to happen to people who are serving Him?
What do you think might have been the result if fear had been allowed to take over?
I beleive that God allows “bad” things to happen in a beleivers life to draw us closer and closer to HIM during those rough times. It is through some of my own deepest sorrows and challenges that I developed my relationship with God more and thus those long,suffering days, weeks and sometimes even months beleive it or not where well worth it. For God had always pulled me through and brought me out to the other side a much more stronger and wiser individual.
Each time I did allow FEAR to take over I remained in my sorrow and grief for so many extra days which only kept me from doing that which God was trying to do within and thorugh me. Satan tries to stop us in our tracks at times with FEAR for He knows that if we keep moving on in what God wants us to accomplish in our lives, exspecialy those things that will serve HIS KINGDOM (GOD”S) here on earth that such would be a great threat to the enemy.
So one must always remember that whenever fear strikes us that such is most likely a firey dart from the enemy and that we need to lean on the LORD more and more to HELP us get on through such fearfull times.
Barbara C
Francine, I would like to encourage you in your difficult circumstances with Psalm 27:10. I am glad that you have put this in God’s hands and pray that by His grace you will be able to leave it there.
the power of prayer really does work
sharon b
Thank You, Beloved Father, for the prayers and encouragement for Carla today..and for all others that need your loving touch…Thank you that you will remember her grandad’s service in your name prior to this medical condition that produces this behavior…Comfort his family with those memories, Dear Lord…Help Carla know “what” and “how” to proceed..Speak in her spirit and reveal, Father…We Praise you for that..And we thank you for the loving testimonies shared here today that encourage us all…Your amazing provision.. and teaching and refinining in our earthen saddnesses and challenges that help us become more like you..and to be conscious of needs of others..You have brought so many earthen servants and Prayer Warriors to this site..Thank You, Lord, for all of them…Lord be with Francine and help her “cast all her cares” on You..Give her Your Peace in these circumstances..Send harvesters towards those family members and help her understand..heal her broken heart, Lord, and touch those around her who need You in that process…Thank You, Dear Lord, and we believe in Jesus name for every request…Amen and Amen
keep on updating me each day!
thanks
Sammy
i’m really enjoying ur daily devotional each day, it’s been ablessing to me.
the lord empowers u big time!
pls continue to pray for me in my struggles
This is a question that I have heard answers too but still do not understand it fully.
In regards to my family, my sisters and father, my mother and brother are gone now, but my family is fragmented, no one speaks to one another and my sisters and their husbands are all followers of Christ. I’ve prayed for years even before my mother past in 03′ that our families will be together again. Even one of my sisters who is heavily in ministry turns her back on her family? I don’t understand it. I’ve grown tired of trying to understand it, and I tire of not understanding it, I’ve given it to the Lord.
This is a very large prayer that goes unanswered, my father still rejects us all, he had an affair with a woman many years ago and he is seen with the daughter of that affiar but spends no time with his legitimate daughters or their families? I prayed about this also but it still has not come to pass. But this too I have grown tired of not understanding and have given it to the God. I do not know what else to do, so I have let go and let God.
This devotion is just what I needed to hear this morning, My husband and I have had a business up for sale for quiet sometime now and the payments are draining us, There have been so many times that I have thought the bank would forclose on us befor we could make the payment but God has always made a way…God has delt with me over the past few years about being debt free, and we are slowley working on that but it seems so many set backs keep hitting us, But I look back and see that God has always seen us through.
Loreli: Just wanted to say your words encouraged me this morning to go to Gods Word even when we are faced with the worst of problems he will lead us….Not around the problem, but through it and I think it makes us so much stronger.. Thanks to all, who left words of hope, and to the ones that need prayer know that there are many women who will be calling on God today on your behalf!!Blessings to each of you!!
Carla I think I would want to go and check on your grandpa if it was me & if you feel let to do so I just Pray Lord please be with Carla today as she goes to see her grandpa, give her the courage, wisdom, love, compassion & understanding as she is there. Also just be with her grandpa Lord you see what is going on in his mind that is causing him to lash out like this and we just pray that you would give the doctors the wisdom as to what is really going on in his body and help them to be able to treat him with the right medications. I just pray these things In Your Name In Faith Believing Amen & Amen Hugs Linda!
Loreli Love your testimony what a Wonderful God we serve! Judy is so right in all she says when God allows bad things to happen to us. I also strongly believe that God allows these things to happen to us so that somewhere down the road we will be able to help, encourage and be a supporting friend to someone else who might be going through a similar situation that we are or have already gone through. I think if we allow fear to take over we become defeated that is why I truly believe we need to always Keep Our Eyes On Jesus in our daily walk with Him. Hugs Linda!
Dear Carla
You are indeed in a difficult position, but it sounds like your grandfather does need your love at this time. If you are unable to check on him by phone and are afraid for your own safety, maybe you could have someone go with you to check on him? Does your community have resources such as home care that you can apply for?
I do pray that this can all be worked out in a way that is best for everyone, and that your grandfather will see Christ’s love in you.
Heavenly Father, thank you for each precious reader. Thank you that we can cast all our anxieties on you, and yes, you do care for each of us. Just as you care about each bird and little flower, you care even more deeply for us. Your love is beyond our understanding, and your power is limitless. I ask you to meet each need expressed in these comments.
Especially guide Carla as she seeks your direction for helping her grandfather. I pray he will get the best medical care and sense your love. Ease the burden she feels for her grandfather.
Today, Father, help each of us walk in faith, not fear and accomplish your purposes for our lives. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.
Carla, I don’t know your situation, so this is a general comment, not specific advice. Sometimes the behavior of the elderly changes because of medical issues beyond their control. When their personalities or behaviors change, a thorough medical and mental evaluation may be needed to determine the cause of the change. Getting outside help from trained professionals is often a good idea. Generally, family members are too closely tied to the person to see clearly, and often they are not trained to make accurate assessments.
Perhaps the children of your grandparents need to know what is happening so they can step in and help your grandparents or seek professional guidance to help them. When I’ve had challenging family-related health challenges, I’ve consulted with other family members and/or health-care professionals. God often guides me through others who expertise in my area of need. Lord, show Carla if she is to do anything further. And if so, show her the next step.
Carla, I prayed for your grandfather.
Thank you Ladies for your sharing. There was a lot of wisdom from you. Have a good day!
Thank you, Lydia, for sharing the incident in your personal life in the devotional helping us to glean wisdom from it.
You asked: Why does God allow “bad” things to happen to people who are serving Him?
That has been asked a lot.
Bottomline, it is a sinful world. We will not be rid of it until Jesus comes again. We may have “bad” things happen to us, but if we stay in God’s will and desire to serve Him, we can still be used for Christ. I am a stroke survivor and recently I have been diagnosed with Lupus. Sure, I would love to not have these issues, but I do. So instead of moaning about it, I need to read His Word, pray, and serve Him in ways He guides me.
You, also, asked: What do you think might have been the result if fear had been allowed to take over?
Well, you would not have had the joy of the strong presentation, but more than that the people in your class would not have received what the Lord had laid on your heart to teach and share with them. Only God knows the impact your teaching had on each individual life. You were faithful to His calling. That was a blessing to you and to the others there.
YES I HAVE FEARS TOO.I BELIEVE VERY FEW OF US DO NOT HAVE FEARS..WE CAN ONLY TURN OUR FEARS OVER TO GOD AND HOPE AND PRAY THAT THINGS WORK OUT. I TO HAVE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF ABUCE. IT IS NOT ANY FUN, BUT I DID GET ON WITH MY LIFE.
girls i need to know your advise last night i was told that my grandpa hit his wife she couldnt take anymore mental abuse, there was a officer there when i took him his dipers. i knew it was for the best for her to leave, my question is there, will be a nurse there this morning, and also his legs, well he cant walk anymore. should i go check on him, and if the answere is yes pray that i have the courage to do and say the rite things, it is so hard………………………….. please does anyone have the answere. lord i pray what should i do ?????? carla………………………………………. please help
I thank God for each new day….I am reading the One Year Bible with my sister. She lives in WV and I live in FL. Reading the Bible through in one year is better when you have someone to do it with. One of yesterday’s scriptures ws Numbers 6: 24-26. “The Lord Bless you and keep you, The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” He is the true giver of peace….I will pray for Carla’s grandpa.
Thank you for that testimony of God’s fathfulness, Loreli.
Interestingly, I was lying awake this morning thinking about peace versus faith in preparation for a devotional I will be giving.
What I concluded is that if peace is the opposite of fear, and Isaiah 53 tells us that the punishment that brought us peace was upon Jesus, then He bore our fears on the cross. AND if He bore our fears on the cross we can take them there and leave them with Him. Peter wouldn’t have told us to cast all our anxiety on God,if God wasn’t prepared to carry it.
May He still all your fears and carry your burdens, Carla
Thank you for sharing.
How encouraging and what a reminder that God does hear and answer our hearts request according to His plan when we are faithful and obedient. His timing and His ways are always perfect.
THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER AND THE WORD!!!
Char
Sweet Jesus, loving Savior, we thank you that even when we lose sight of You, You do not lose sight of us! Our world can sometimes crumble around us, leaving clouds of doubt and discouragement that obscure our vision of You. Lord, we pray for Carla’s precious grandfather, who was called to proclaim Your Truth and teach Your precepts, who now struggles with believing the ‘unseen.’ Give him new eyes, Lord, that he would ‘see’ You again, trusting You for the behind-the-scenes work that You are doing in his life! Hold him closer now, that he would feel Your heartbeat in him again! And dear Lord, encourage Carla at this time, reassuring her of Your faithfulness, that You are there during the dry seasons of our lives, as well as the fruitful seasons! Let her remember the men of faith in the Bible who went through spiritual droughts at times, yet You were understanding and patient, and eventually lead them to spiritual refreshment! May their examples be a comforting balm to her, as she waits upon Your answer, Lord! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen!
Carla, The enemy would love to steal, kill and destroy all that your Grandpa has inside him but stand in the gap and pray a hedge of protection around him and cover him with the blood of Jesus. Start now speaking scripture out for him. The prayers of the righteous avail much and God’s word never returns void. You are stronger than you think and God will empower you to stand for this loved one until he can stand on his own again. Have a good day sister!
Fear is something I have struggled with since childhood. At times it’s grip has been strong but a few years ago I went through something called InnerHealing and Deliverance and I was able to let go of many fears that had a stronghold. It has been through struggles financially and trials with health that my stregnth has come. Each endurance test has stregnthened my faith and given me the courage to press on. I’ve always stated this remark, “If He can part the red sea, he can take care of Me” and it’s true there is nothing he can’t do. Last week I sat on the side of the road in a Van that decided to go only 20 miles an our (walking would have been faster but I was an hour from home). I had no idea of how God would provide or how we would buy a new car. A family member called me and told me to go pick out a car, this person that offered has never done anything like that before and as I woke Sunday morning it was the Holy Spirit tapping me on the shoulder and speaking to my heart saying, “Didn’t you ask me to take care of it, and I did”. NOw I’m not saying you can get everything you want that way but for this day, this way God did intervene and provide and I am still in awe over it. Ladies at the end of the day my desire is that I have made his heart smile and his voice heard. It’s in simple trust that he is pleased. May you all be blessed today and remember He is ever faithful and waiting to hold you in his arms and listen to your cares.
lord thank you for todays dev. thank you for another day. lord all i ask today is you will give me your peace and fill my heart with joy. i am asking prayer request for my grandpa he is loosing sight of the lord please pray for him he used to be a minister. and the lord knows his heart, god be with him. i lift him up to you lord i love you lord and thank you for another day. lord be with us today .