Weathering the Storm...

have you ever heard someone say, "if you're a Christian than why do you suffer?" well i have been getting that a lot lately... especially since i have dug myself in a hole that i don't even know if there is a way out of. but you know what... i know in my heart that God is molding me and shaping me into what he wants me to be and that is why I am suffering... it is not because i don't believe enough or that i am not a good person... it is because i need to cling to Him even when things are so bad there seems to be no way out... and some people just need to learn the hard way... so please if you think that there is no God because there is suffering and good people go through hard times... stop and think about what good comes of the pain that comes with suffering... like Katrina... everyone pulled together to help one another, to unite in a way that wasn't possible before... to let everyone know how bad some peoples situations get and to let them know that there are still good people in the world and that God is sovereign and merciful and does not give them anything more than they can handle... He builds them into true images of His perfect likeness. Jesus suffered, so do we. Do you think that if God let His one and only blameless Son die and be punished for the sins of others that we should get off scott free? I don't think so. Jesus' suffering brought about the most Beautiful and Faultless Truth, and to this day human suffering and hard times prove that Truth to be ABSOLUTELY TRUE! Jesus died to save us from our sins, not to give us a get out of jail free card. The chains of the earth, suffering included, still bind us, but what frees us is not this life but the life we have with Him when we die. Therefore, suffering is beneficial. No one likes its sour taste but its not like it doesn't serve a purpose to nourish our souls and prepare us to be in the presence of the One True God. 

Therefore, if anyone mistook my talking about the rough time I am going through as complaining I am sorry. And to admit some truth maybe I have been complaining, but I am trying not to. I know that this is for my own good, and i know that God has a plan for me that has been ordained since before i was born. and to prove my point a little, i want to tell you that since i have come to the foot of the cross and have been giving Him my all (or trying my darndest to) He has blessed my life with bringing people who truly care out. As well as answering my prayer to have someone to encourage me with a stronger and more experienced faith of my own. There is Beauty From Pain!! Do not be discouraged, for i am not. I take pleasure in my pain, not in a weird masochistic kind of way, but kind of a little peace of solace in the fact that (1) it is for a ordained purpose and (2) that i am not alone.

Anyway, to update you all in the events in my life. My chemistry grade is still an issue. The last few straws I had have been pulled and still there is no avail. I am going to talk to the Dean today in hopes he can overturn the last decision that was made. I am really nervous and trying to hold tight to the fact that this is in God's hands and whatever the outcome may be i still have Him. This gives me so much comfort. My mother and father are very disappointed in me... i can't really say i blame them. I just pray that their bitterness and anger can be soothed and that God will give them some peace that I will be okay, He is in control. I know it is hard to think this way especially when things are not going as planned. I also pray for all those who have taken the time to pray for me in these last couple of days... it means a lot to me. I pray that God will continue to bless their lives as only He can and that His Glory be prevalent in their lives as well as my own so that people may see Him. I pray for all those who are lost to Him, that they may find there way back to Him and discover their Purpose, His Purpose for their lives! I pray for all those that suffer and those that are embittered because of it... that they may take rest in God Alone! I pray all these things in Jesus' precious and Holy Name!

Yours in Christ,

Jillian

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature, and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4

My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalm 62: 1-4 (Thanks Jenny :0) )