So, i have been going through a devotion book called “A Heart that Dances” by Catherine Martin. Honestly, it’s been ok, not the greatest devotion book I’ve ever been through but I am getting stuff out of it. Yesterday I was reading about suffering. Martin included several excerpts from other authors and Bible verses that I wanted to post because they had such an impact on me right now.

“Our afflictions whatever they are, whether pain, trouble, disappointment or illness, contribute to eternal glory….Afflictions are momentary, passing, transient. They belong to time. The glory, which means the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be eternal….Far too many of us have our joys and our sorrows connected with the external, material, sensuous things of life. The practice of focusing one’s vision spiritually upon the unseen in life, character, salvation and glory will remove the sting from present affliction.” Harold J. Ockenga in The Comfort of God

My Father’s way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I’m glad I know,
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I”ll trust my Lord to lead
For He doth know the way.

Tho’ night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break;
I’ll pin my faith, my all in Him,
He maketh no mistake.

There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim;
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift
And plain it all He’ll make.
Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,
He made not one mistake.
A.M. Overton

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-11