Broken

Today, I have heard stories of "broken hearts and brokenness."
.... of hurting relationships and broken communication.
.... of the weight of cancer and broken courage under weighty decisions.
.... of broken trust in Christian leadership.
.... of broken words that are not fixing anything.

I know that in some churches today a "different gospel" has been presented (probably always has been as we remember that Paul warns us of a "different gospel being preached; one that leaves out the cross). This is one that ignores the "fellowship of suffering" or that indicts a believers' faith if he suffers in "brokenness". This is one that says that the amount of my faith or the methods employed in my faith somehow bears the weight of whether I receive healing or blessing. Ultimately leaving it up to me and putting me in the place of God. (RIGHT WHERE WE STARTED FROM IN THE GARDEN)

BUT, contrarily I know we are promised a "fellowship in suffering" AND we are promised that "faith IN JESUS CHRIST, and Jesus Christ alone, redeems and saves us for eternal life beyond what we know here. Simple faith in Him and not in any results of faith, brings a peace that God is in control, and that life here is but a foreshadow of shared glory to come. We can be sure that whatever suffering we share here, we share with Him who redeemed us, and we share with one another. We can also rest in the fact that "all things work together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purposes." (WE GET GLIMPSES OF THAT GLORY)

WHERE TO TURN IN OUR SUFFERING:

Romans 8:18-26; 38-39
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. (WOW!...THERE SEEMS TO BE A TIPPED SCALE: GLORY HAS THE WEIGHT...not even worthy to be compared!)
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God. (THAT'S US!)
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope (LEST WE THINK MORE HIGHLY OF OURSELVES THAN WE SHOULD.....OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL)

because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (WHAT IS TO COME!!!)
For we know that the whole of creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now (I SEE IT ALL AROUND)
Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit (THAT'S JESUS! AS IF FOR SOME OF US, NOT ENOUGH.... THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING)

Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (OH HOW OUR HEARTS ACHE)
For we were saved in this hope (OF ADOPTION AND REDEMPTION),
but HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE...???
For why does one hope for what he still sees? (IF WE COULD SEE IT WE WOULD NOT NEED TO HOPE ANY LONGER)
BUT if we hope for what we do not see, we EAGERLY wait for it with perseverance.
(LORD, MAY I BE FOUND EAGERLY WAITING FOR YOU!)

LIKEWISE, THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESSES........For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit makes intercession for us in groanings which cannot be uttered....." (SOMETIMES THERE ARE NO WORDS TO SAY...)

V 38
"FOR I AM PERSUADED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT NOR THINGS TO COME;
NOR HEIGHT NOR DEPTH NOR ANY OTHER CREATED THING SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD." (ALLELUIA!)

"THOSE THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH...THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS THE EAGLE....THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT GROW WEARY THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT FAINT....TEACH ME LORD, TEACH ME LORD TO WAIT!"

MAY YOUR DAYS BE FILLED WITH WONDERMENT AT THE PERFECT ECONOMY OF OUR GOD WHO KNOWS THE BEGINNING FROM THE END; ALL OF OUR WANDERINGS FROM THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD; AND ALL OF OUR DOUBTS AND FEARS THAT COME BEFORE GLORY REVEALED.