Suffering
Author: Katie Sweigart (Pennsylvania, USA)
‘You have a brain tumour.’ Hearing those words was a surreal experience. My two seizures led doctors to discover a benign tumour in my brain just before my last year at college.
The four years since my diagnosis have been hard.
Doctor’s visits, medication, tests, insomnia, weight gain and frustration filled my days.
But God has given me the strength to face each new day.
Cards, emails, phone calls, visits and prayers have helped me to understand how blessed I am.
I am not alone. I thought I had the ‘Jesus thing’ worked out. I grew up in a Christian home, attended church, taught at Sunday school and joined a Christian fellowship in college; but struggling with illness showed me the glory of God more than ever before.
Through suffering, we can learn to rely on God and to trust his plans for us in a new way. We can shine his light on other people, talking to them about the strength we find in Jesus.
No one wants to experience hardship, but we can trust God to be present with us always.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, when we face difficult times, reassure us of your love, remind us that you will never leave us, and help us to trust in your will. Amen
