Tribulation...

I read another really great devotional this morning and I wanted to share it with all of you. However, before I do this, I wanted to give you a quick update on my recovery. I am progressing very well with everything although a little slow for me at times! I have sore muscles from needing to pull and/or push myself up all the time but I was blessed yesterday by my neice who is a licensed massage therapist. She came over and massaged some of my sore muscles! This felt so good but she said that it gives the muscles a workout and they may be a little sore today if I didn't push the water. I'm trying to push a lot of water and they don't feel too bad today! YAY!! I also had my last Lovenox injection yesterday! This is a blood thinner to help prevent blod clots after surgery. I had to have one injection for 21 days after surgery and yesterday was the LAST ONE!!!!! WHEW! Now maybe my stomach can heal and the black and blue areas will go away! I also went with Logan last night to Holland for our allergy appointments. It went pretty well but I was sore and very tired by the time we got home. I'm glad I can stay home and rest today.

So... injections being done now is one more step to "freedom"! :) Next week Thursday will be 4 weeks and I'll be able to get rid of the stockings that also help with preventing blood clots. One step at a time... :)

Anyway, the devotion I read this morning was entitled "Be of Good Cheer" and I thought it made some really good points. The scripture to go with it is taken from John 16:25-33 and I'll let you read that on your own if you wish. I'll put verse 33 here for you though.

"In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Tribulation - there's a word you don't hear much nowadays. The word comes from the Latin tribulare, "to press". Tribulation is pressure. In the Middle Ages there was a form of capital punishment called Tribulation. Heavy stones were stacked, one after another, on the victim, until finally the pressure was too much to bear and the poor soul was crushed.

Sometimes it does seem that life keeps stacking heavy weights on us - financial struggles, health issues, family strife, personal sorrows. The pressure can feel relentless, overwhelming. Midway through a counseling session with a troubled parishioner, the man held his head in his hands and sobbed. "Sometimes I feel like I have a ton of bricks on my shoulders," he whispered. "In the world you have tribulation," said Jesus.

The promise of the gospel is not that there will be no tribulation. The promise is that despite tribulation, Christ has overcome the world. Faith does not help us avoid tribulation. Faith is what gets us through tribulation. Faith is what helps us endure the unendurable and bear the unbearable.

Be of good cheer. Jesus has overcome the world. And his victory is your victory. That fact may not change your present situation; but it can change you.

- Lou Lotz

Prayer ~ Lord, help me to bear life's pressures.

Be blessed today!
With Love,
Diane