Tags
distractions, Endurance, experience, following Jesus, hecticness, joy, pain, peace, prayer, rest, separation from the world, suffering, the cross
The other day I found a German saying on my Catholic kitchen calendar I did not throw away immediately because it prompted me several times to stop and read it again. Indeed, whenever I reread these words, I feel the confirmation of its truth at once.
“Sit back and do nothing. There is a time when silence heals.” (Gerhard Engelsberger)
Since I do not want to write another entry about the importance of (accepted) suffering for our transformation into the image of Christ, I want to simply tell you something about the prerequisites and the effects of withdrawing from this world’s hectic fussing and ramblings. Actually, it is not only necessary to find a quiet place (which is more difficult in a big city), we need to also nun ourselves from being occupied with everything that does NOT point us to God. Easier said than done, dear brothers and sisters! Whoever tried that before might know how difficult it is. 🙄
I cannot claim to be a prayer heroine, instead, I know I always need God to pull me closer to Himself. Often times I spend a long time sitting on the couch in the living room or lying in bed, keeping my eyes closed while I try to focus on God. Nonetheless, I rather go through another not-yet-jotted-down shopping list in my mind, I worry about situations that most probably never come true, or I surrender to mental reruns of former conversations which also avails to nothing. Yet whenever God comes into play, my normal hamster wheel of thoughts stops although it seems to me that it sometimes keeps turning in the background while God’s calming presence blanks out its pulling effect on me. What I found out lately was that in the midst of suffering deeply, God showed up and poured His peace and overwhelming joy into my heart while the pain of my broken heart did NOT stop. Suffering and joy at the same time? I often read about this phenomenon, however, that was truly new to me. In apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans we read,
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Rom 5:1-5 ESV)
Endurance, aha! That seems to be the goal at the moment since God has used several areas of my life (body, soul, and spirit) where He let me suffer over the last about 20 years. As soon as one particular pain has ended, I do not need to wait for a long time until the next trial or affliction puts me to the test again. Sound familiar? Brothers and sisters, that is the way of the cross, isn’t it?
However, I also wanted to tell you something about how longer prayer breaks without worldly distractions affect us. In fact, the effect 😉 – pun intended – of first outward silence and then (God-given) inward silence that follows spontaneously sooner or later, is something you will NEVER find in this world we live in today. Whether you do-it-yourself or if you seek the help of others, no worries, it works for everyone who longs to find a peaceful escape from our world that is at war with God. Just lately I agreed on a very special effect with a friend of mine, a woman whom I hold in high regard since God used her to speak to me five times meanwhile. Emphatically at that! Whether she offered helpful advice regarding my body pains or some tips concerning our daughter’s particular situation, whenever God spoke through her, I felt joy and peace in my heart. You might wonder whether this woman is a Christian, well, I would say, “I am not sure.” But I know she has known suffering, too, and she is the only one here where I live through whom God spoke that often and that clearly. Oops! I digress. 😊 What I wanted to say was that we agreed that it is a wonderful experience to find rest in our mind, heart, and soul. We both find it hard to get back into normal (crazy) life with its hectic pace afterwards. From slowness and timelessness back to madness, hustle and bustle, so to say. Indeed, we need a longer time to get used to speaking words out loud again. The longer the silence inside has lasted, the more we need to force ourselves to really open our mouth and to speak up again. As strange as that might seem to you, I believe, this is the way to God’s heart as long as we seek Him with honesty in our own hearts. Honesty means here that there is no need to play any religious role as we try to get closer to God. We can be who we are with all this trash on our minds as we try to meet Him. He will sort it all out, for sure! 😉
Becky Johnson said:
Those very words in Romans 5 have been my hearts ponderings as of late. 3 weeks ago today after a fun weekend away with good friends we arrived home to find someone has stolen my husband’s truck. A truck we almost had paid off, a truck he had rebuilt the transmission and front end earlier this year as our choice was to keep it, to own it. After years of horrible financial decisions and the Father’s grace and mercy we are slowly healing and learning. And then this side swipe from left field. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, while I felt also like I was in labor to believe for a positive outcome and a recovered truck. Attempting to find the balance of having obstinate faith and hands held open for whatever His will. It has felt like a crucible. Often times Sparks’ articles were deeply timely. Just got a new (to us) truck Friday. Processing the claim through insurance this week. I feel deflated and exhausted by it all, but trusting He is here.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Oh boy, what a trial, dear Becky! 🙁
Sparks spoke to me very often, too, lately. I also have had doubts as for the positive outcome of some trials despite God’s promises to me before. I think our doubts must come to light so that they can finally disappear as they are replaced by Christ’s faith in us.
Btw, Paul and I have had a similar trial with a new car we bought this year as our 24 years old convertible did not want to be confronted with these long distances between Fürth and Upper Bavaria (where Sarah now lives) any longer.
Deflated and exhausted, yes!! Same here. 😛 Longing for His rest 🏖🐳🏖 and the time when I have been enabled to trust Him completely. Alas, not yet there… 😞
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Becky Johnson said:
Susanne, I really like what you said here: “I think our doubts must come to light so that they can finally disappear as they are replaced by Christ’s faith in us.”
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Thank you, Becky.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Isn’t that strange, Becky? 🤔 Right after writing my reply to you, I read TAS devotional from tomorrow (Nov 27) and it deals exactly with what I have been struggling with: not having entered His rest yet. If you like, follow the link beneath.
http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/openwindows/003476.html
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Kenneth Dawson said:
Ok Sue you have done it again–I went and read that full version of the Spark article and it answers my dilemma—I asked my Sunday School people to pray for me as I am fixing to start school on Monday Dec. the fourth to become a certified nursing assistant–Naturally I am hesitant but like the man in the story I want to demonstrate the ability of the Lord to accomplish His doing—I can’t believe I could be working in a hospital—It’s time for an embodiment of the faithful—Thanks for the rest.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Ken, I am glad to hear that Sparks spoke to you and your tricky situation, too.
May God lead you His way and give you faith and strength to follow Him and His leading.
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Anna Waldherr said:
Dearest Susanne —
This post touched me on several levels.
The idea of withdrawing from outer chaos, and stilling inner turmoil, could not be more timely. Here in America we have entered the frenetic Christmas season. Stores opened on Thanksgiving to gain an advantage for the Black Friday rush. It will be a steeplechase from now till December 25, a race for the biggest and best gift with little or no bearing whatsoever on the true meaning of Christmas.
Even devout Christians can find themselves drawn into this pagan spectacle.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas. I am aware that some Christians do not celebrate the holiday at all. However, I do not read scripture to prohibit it. And the events surrounding Christ’s birth encourage celebration:
• The appearance of the angel of the Lord to announce the birth to the shepherds (Luke 2: 10-12)
• The heavenly host praising God (Luke 2: 13-14)
• The response of the shepherds (Luke 2: 15-20)
• The later arrival of wise men bearing gifts (Matt. 2: 1-12)
Christmas is, of course, intimately linked to Easter with Christ’s death on the cross and Resurrection. So the topic of suffering is apt.
Suffering is interwoven in the fabric of life on earth. We need only look around. One family has lost a child. Another is struggling to care for a parent with Alzheimer’s, or cope with a lack of employment. A veteran has lost a limb. The list goes on and on. That does not even take into account the natural disasters that can strike without warning, or the ongoing impact of corruption in politics and business.
It is easy to lose hope, especially when our suffering or that of our loved ones is chronic in nature. A wide variety of grave illnesses fall into this category. So does the pain families experience for loved ones involved with alcohol and/or drugs or those in abusive relationships.
For Christians, Christ supplies that hope. But we must return to the source, again and again. We must not turn away from Him in our discouragement or despair, in our anger or frustration. He is closest to us when we are brokenhearted.
On a final note, I cannot claim to be a prayer heroine, either. I see Him in the faces of the poor. But He speaks to my heart most clearly in the solitude of the night watches and through the beauty of nature.
Let me be the first to wish you a blessed Christmas! As Scrooge declared on his reformation, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
With much love,
A. ❤
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Dearest Anna,
It seems we Germans have had a tendency to imitate every trend that comes from the States. Soooo…. frenetic Christmas season, yes, here as well. Although we did not celebrate Thanksgiving last Thursday (we celebrate this day earlier in October), however, we do not only have a Black Friday now, we are also confronted with a Black Week where retailers offer bargain prices on everything nobody really needs. 😉
I think we have freedom to celebrate Christmas or not so, like you, I won’t judge anyone, either. What gives me cause for concern, though, is the fact that some religious groups prohibit specifically to celebrate Christmas (like Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example). I think they do a lot of mental damage to their members since Christmas, whether we love it or not, is strongly related to our childhood and to family tradition as well. As they deprive people of an important part of their history, they steal their liberty, too.
Anna, you said,
“It is easy to lose hope, especially when our suffering or that of our loved ones is chronic in nature.”
I know that one. You are so right! ⭐ It is so easy to keep focusing on what we want to see changed [in my case always soon since I am not patient by nature!] instead of taking the time to focus on God in Christ who alone can give us a new (read His) perspective on things so that we can experience a new Life Beyond Circumstances as it lately dawned on me while writing this poem I just linked.
Indeed, may God help us focus and honor our Savior in our heart – all the year! Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Advent and Christmas season, dear Anna! ❤
With much love,
Susanne ❤
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Michael said:
Susanne, I had a similar event in my life lately where I was at my wit’s end being surrounded by people and their worldly ways. I was screaming inside to just be left alone and find some quietness and solitude, but duty called and pressed in upon me. I finally got a chance to pray as I was falling asleep that night and asked the Lord’s help in what I could not gain by my own fleshly ways. He miraculously gave me grace and love for others and enabled me to abide in HIS rest. The next day went well, though the circumstances only changed a bit. Thank God I did not blow my top as I was tempted to do. If I had changed things by the arm of my flesh the destruction of relationships would have been lasting. Through overcoming by His Spirit this verse has taken a deeper meaning…
That which is born of the [my] flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6, KJ2000)
Thanks for sharing your Life with us,
Michael
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Michael,
You are very welcome as to my writing on here.
Thank YOU for sharing your experience that confirms the message I tried to bring across above. I am happy to hear that God saved you from this pull of the flesh, something I have come to know in myself very well, too. In fact, this Scripture you pasted has a much deeper meaning than I thought before….. “That which is born of the flesh” is not merely a person, a human being… it might also be a spirit, or a thought only that eventually leads to an act, and if continued, to behavior. Still mulling over that one… Very good, my brother! ⭐
Your sister in Him,
Susanne
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