Come, sit awhile for a Cafe Chat.....

Kim has asked us to ponder an incredible question this week. She tells an incredible story of Helen Roseveare, a missionary in the Congo that endured tremendous suffering but continued to trust God and praise Him.

“There was no bitterness within her, though Helen had experienced terrible,
mindless evil. It would have been so easy to demand of God why He allowed these
atrocities, when she had been so faithful to His service. But in her heart of
hearts, she felt that God’s question would be, “Can you thank Me for trusting
you with this experience, even if I never tell you why?”

Kim writes, "That question stopped me in my tracks, and for today’s Chat I
would like to hear your thoughts about this question...Of course this is the
question that Helen felt like God was asking her, but I think it is a good
question for all of us to ponder."

Wow. Can I THANK God for trusting me with my painful experiences? Do I even want to have this attitude? Or, do I run from the idea of any pain or suffering, despite the New Testament promise that we rejoice when we share in the suffering of Jesus Christ?

This question brought me to weeping as I again was reminded of those suffering with suffering children, like Abby Riggs (scroll down). I posted about her last night and asked you to join me in prayer. Just before I checked in at the Cafe, I was praying for the women I met last weekend at the conference. So many praying for loved ones suffering from cancer....Others who have lost jobs. As I prayed, I was thinking how our lives would change if Brian lost his job. What would we do?

As I read this question, would I have the heart attitude of thanking God for HIM TRUSTING ME with this trial?

Or, what about cancer? Would I THANK HIM FOR TRUSTING ME with this trial?

Or, like Helen....being gang raped, beaten, and left for dead....would I thank God for TRUSTING ME with this trial?

Or, like Paul, beaten, stoned TWICE, shipwrecked and lost at sea, bitten by a poisonous snake, and imprisoned in chains, would I have the same heart attitude that cries,

"But whatever to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of
Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the
surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of the His resurrection and the FELLOWSHIP OF SHARING IN HIS SUFFERINGS, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow , to
attain to the resurrection from the dead."

Wow. A lot to think about today...

Please take a few moments to ponder this question and visit the Cafe to join the chat....