Tag Archives: Suffering

Faith, Five Minute Friday

There is only One Answer when facing Difficult questions

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Life is one big question. Wouldn’t you agree? We are facing difficult questions at every stage of life. Many uncertainties. We thought we had it hard when we were kids, but we soon realise it doesn’t get any easier as we become adults. 

Sometimes, it feels like there is a big question mark hanging over our heads. And from time to time, it feels like the hook on that question mark slips down and is hanging around our necks. It grips so tight, it almost feels like we’re suffocating. 

When faced with too many life changing questions, it can cause a whole heap of anxiety. One of the questions I often ask when I feel the weight of all this hanging around my neck is, why? Being a Christian, I thought dealing with life’s challenges would be easier. 

So why do I suffer then when I am a Christian?

Why is it when I choose to try and live well, I then suffer?

Why is it I feel under attack when I try to do the next right thing?

We are not protected from suffering when we become a Christian. It’s totally the opposite. I have learnt this so much in my own life. In whatever situation we face, when we step out in faith there will always be something around the corner ready to trip us up. 

It’s how we deal with these encounters that helps us to get up and face what is ahead, rather than to fall down and fail. (And even when we fall down, we have not yet failed because we know we can always get back up! *wink*)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

The Answer to our difficult questions

When we face a big question, know that you are not on your own. Satan is always waiting around to taunt you on this. When you feel you can’t take anymore, he is always there ready to pile something else on.

You know those days when it just feels like it’s one thing after the other? That’s him alright! He is trying to get in the way of you realising what you truly need to rely on. 

Lean into the One who can provide you with the Answer. 

Jesus. 

Jesus is the Answer. Don’t let that question mark hang around your neck for it to suffocate you. Turn to Jesus, the One who hung on the cross for all our questions. We will lack nothing if we let Jesus be the One to provide the answers. 

Turn to Jesus, the One who hung on the cross for all our questions. Share on X We will lack nothing if we let Jesus be the One to provide the answers.  Share on X

This was written for the Five Minute Friday Community, where a number of writers gather for a weekly writing challenge around a single word prompt and write to our hearts content. Usually we free-write for 5 minutes, but it’s ok to go over this or just use the word as a general prompt.

This weeks word prompt is ‘question’. Click here if you want to see what other people wrote. You can also have a go yourself. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘question’?

Faith

Under The Weather

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This was me last week under the covers, with the fire on. I was feeling a bit fed up and sorry for myself with constantly not feeling well. I just wanted to get better. I wanted to be able to get up in the morning and feel like I hadn’t got something else wrong with me.

I apologise right now if I come across a little bit moany or ungrateful. I know that I should be thankful for the health that I do have. I know I’m not dying. I’m just saying how I feel at the moment, which is just a little bit crappy really. I’m just being honest.

I am 95% there now with my back and it’s great to be able to walk properly again. I can now keep up with the kids a bit more, which is kind of important when you are trying to catch them at something…and walking up the stairs doesn’t take me half an hour now!

I was ill last week though with a cold, topped off with an ear infection in both ears.  Dizziness… headaches… sneezing… feeling sick… earache… sore throat… aching… I think I will stop there!

I was trying to work out earlier when the last time was when I actually felt fit and healthy. You know where you can bounce out of bed and feel on top of the world.  I think it’s been a little over a year now to say the least. It feels a bit ridiculous, and frustrating at the same time, that I always have something wrong with me – and it’s been for so long.

Have you ever felt like that?

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It’s been one thing after another.  And honestly, when you feel a little bit under the weather, it is hard to feel positive. My friends probably look at me and think, “what’s wrong with her now?” I know I do!

There is something keeping me going through all this though…my faith. My faith gives me perseverance to carry on. I’m not saying it’s easy and that I don’t struggle, coz I do. Oh my word, do I struggle. So much so, that sometimes all I can do is just cry and shout out to God.

Shout out to God? Yeah, I shout at Him…I tell Him EXACTLY how I feel.  Why not? That’s what He’s there for after all.

When you are trying to look after yourself, and you have three little ones around you that are not well either…well, it’s blinkin’ hard! But somehow, I cope. I might not feel like I am at the time, but I do get through it. I can only believe that God is providing me with the grace and strength that I need to get through each day. He will never give me more than what I can cope with. I know that.

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If you are going through something right now, and you are finding it hard to cope,  hang in there. You may not feel it right now, but God is there right beside you…and He will not let you fall.