August 14, 2010
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What I am experiencing is just a small stuff when comparing to His.
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.Isaiah 53:10-11
During the first 5-week internship, my weight was reduced to 161 pounds, that is 5 pounds less than before internship. The pressure and challenge I experienced are huge and unprecedented. However, I deeply thank God because I felt calm unexpectedly even though I can’t change the environment where I am and sometimes I feel a bit of frustrated. Actually, my personal sign of His presence is that when I am in a very stressful situation, my mind feels exceptionally peaceful and at the same time, my palms are very dry. For me, I have not met that experience for several years. Dear Lord, your presence means a lot to me and gives me courage to walk along the road that you want me to go.
I like the below message, quoted from http://dailydisciples.org/ (August 14-15)
The word Christian means “little Christ.” As Christians, we are not greater than our Master and His call on earth was to suffer. The NIV says that He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not (Isaiah 53:3).Jesus was filled with all the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) while still suffering and in sorrow. That is the goal of the Christian’s life. Despite all the emotional, mental, physical, circumstantial torment, we have love, joy, peace, patience-through it all.
The rain falls on the just and unjust alike. It falls on the saved and the unsaved. We are not spared from trials because we are Christians. But it is through the everyday issues of life that we are changed into Christ-likeness because of them. Jesus is our example as well as our intercessor who knows and understands whatever we are facing. Turn to face Him, knowing that the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
I seldomly think about the life in Heaven, though it is a privilege for all Christians. What I treasure most in my life is with Him at the difficulties or at the time of hopelessness. His comforts from the Word are like the candles in the darkest room, or a cup of water in a desert. When I remember Jesus experienced different unfair treatments, emotional/physical tortures, betrayal and many others, I am strengthened and feel much comforted as He clearly understands how I feel right now and He set a very good example for me: How to live His life in a narrow road.
Thank you, Lord. I really need You in my life. I can return nothing but my little faith.
