I’ve noticed the Lord will often take me back to certain memories in my life, and it’s like He’ll show me a brand new perspective —a new way to look at that memory.

He’ll take it and really “make something” of it. ?

This morning I suddenly remembered a specific memory from when I was 11 years old, and I was in the hospital after being newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

There was a man who came to do a test called an “arterial blood gas test” to check and make sure there was no damage done to my organs, and as a kid, all I knew, was that I saw a needle that looked MUCH bigger than I had ever seen before, and he was going to put it in near the wrist/ palm area of my hand. So let’s just say I had some concerns…. and I wanted to know exactly what was going on. haha

I remember asking this man, “Can you tell me what you are going to do? Is this going to be painful? How painful will it be?”

And I remember how this man took the time to be honest with me…and there was something about his honesty that comforted me, there was something about the way he took the time to tell me what he was going to do, and yes, that it would hurt, more than a normal shot, but something about the honesty and his “way” helped me to have peace, and I was able to brace myself as a little kid, knowing that, yes —it was going to hurt, but it gave me the opportunity to decide to be brave. (Which was completely the opposite of my way of life back then.)

This moment came back to me this morning, and when it did, all I could think of was how I so appreciated that this man was honest with me about the pain, about what was going to happen… he didn’t lie to me, he didn’t tell me it was going to be painless and then trick me into it. He was honest.

And of course then I thought of the way Jesus told us what life would be like, He’s honest and real with us, He prepares us by sharing with us that as His followers we would experience pain and trouble in this life…

“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” —John 16:20-22

“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 16:33

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” —1 Peter 5:10

But His Word also assures us of this, and it’s just as important to know as well…

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” —Isaiah 43:2

In Christ, we can do the hard things, we can endure any pain we may have to face. He has promised us that He would be with us, and He will help us to endure through anything we could ever face.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” —James 1:12

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” —Romans 8:18

We can take heart in these promises…

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”—2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Lord, thank You for being honest with us, thank You for sharing with us, what we can expect in this life. You don’t “sugarcoat” things. I believe there is a reason You told us about what to expect in this life —in this part of the story. And You remind us that in spite of trouble or pain, that we can always take heart, because we know what You’ve promised us. We can know that you’re always going to be right there, helping us to endure, drawing us close, building something with us, and leading us into the way of the Kingdom —which is the eternal, everlasting way.

“And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.” —Daniel 7:14

“…for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” —2 Peter 1:11

Thank You, Lord. ☀️

-Heather ?