It's a good thing to have a few moments to oneself as the day winds down, to reflect on the day's events, conversations, headlines--all the things that touch us and help shape who we are.  Not every day engenders itself so, as there are many tasks, chores and responsibilities that tug at us.

From Maxine Fidler:

". . . When Christians don't talk about troubles, it sounds like either they don't have any troubles or they serve a cotton-candy God (nice on special occasions but not particularly useful in real life). I firmly believe that it is precisely IN my troubles that I learn whether my faith in God actually means something or is just a lot of nice-sounding words. 

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him" (Job 13:15, NIV) is not terribly uplifting (perhaps the non-word that I am looking for is "happifying"), but it is TRUE. It is EDIFYING. It is the cry of a heart that is in great pain, and proof that hope in God is a choice, a decision, independent of circumstance. 

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4, NIV)

Shadows and death aren't particularly palatable but they exist, and until we admit that they are real it is not possible to discover that God, the GOD OF ALL COMFORT, is MORE REAL STILL. When you're in the shadows, and the only words you hear are about how victorious the Christian life is (a statement I agree with, but while "victorious" is what is said, "painless" is often what is heard and sometimes what is meant) the impression is left that if your life is not painless (a) you're doing it wrong (you're not a very good Christian) or (b) it doesn't work (Christianity is not a viable way of life).

I agree with Martin Luther's statement "Our suffering is not worthy of the name of suffering. When I consider my crosses, tribulations and temptations, I shame myself almost to death thinking what are they in comparison of the sufferings of my blessed savior Christ Jesus." But when we deny the reality of suffering by not discussing it, we cheat ourselves of the opportunity to know and be known by, love and be loved by Christ in ever deeper ways. ("I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 26:33, NIV) 

Samuel Rutherford said "I desire now to make no more pleas with Christ; verily, he hath not put me to a loss by what I suffer; he oweth me nothing; for in my bonds, how sweet and comfortable have the thoughts of him been to me, wherein I find a sufficient recompense of reward!" In my own life it has been in my suffering that Abba, our heavenly Father, has touched me and taught me the most. Through my experiences with chronic illness, this is an issue that I feel VERY strongly about . . ."

God's blessings,
Maxine Fidler 
July 2001