Suffering among many other things is designed to refine and display our faith in Christ as Christians. Trials and suffering will encompass believers, but their faith is strengthened and upheld by God’s righteous right hand. They have hope in the midst of unimaginable hardship. Their understanding and love for God increases. They know more of the depth of the Father’s love for them and this comfort that they receive from God overflows and finds a place of rest in the lives of other suffering people. Sometimes it’s a silent embrace, a letter, or the acknowledgement that one has been praying. Other times it’s comic relief, a home-cooked meal, or a small gift.
Jenni and I have encountered all of these over the past 8 months and our faith has been strengthened and refined - but God has strengthened and refined our faith in massive ways through some really awesome and undeserved friends. We have been cared for by more people than we could think of or imagine, but there are 8 people that have carried our joy and pain unlike anyone else. They have cried with us, laughed with us, encouraged us, corrected us, blessed us with fellas only/ladies only nights out. They have loved Chase in ways that have blown us away. They threw a birthday party for him, made a cake, made bracelets with their kids for little Chase, showered us and him with gifts, held him in the hospital and told him of his Savior and the impact that he has had on their lives. We could fill hundreds of pages with all that they have done to demonstrate their love for us. Meet out best friends below (Eric and Lisa Simmons, Isaac and Kelly Hydoski, Joe and Esther Lee, and Curt and Betsy Allen). We have tried to upload photos of all our friends over the past three weeks for this post but have been unsucessful. We will upload more as we are able, but for now this one picture of Curt, Eric, and Lisa will do
Philippians 2.3-8 says“…in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
These 8 people have been the surest and clearest demonstration of these verses that Jenni and I have ever encountered. They have comforted us, helped us, and uplifted us. They have forgotten themselves and have immersed their lives in all of our pain and joy. They have so binded their lives to us and baby Chase that our life and his life has become theirs. As Scripture says, they have lost their lives and in doing so have found it.
Suffering is meant to lead us not away from, but into the midst of others. We are called to “rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep” (Romans 12.15). We are called to “carry one another’s burdens and in this you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6.2).
Eric, Lisa, Isaac, Kelly, Joe, Emo, Curt, and Betsy you have become more dear to our hearts than we could ever express and we thank God for you because you have taught us, encouraged us, and exhorted us – whether you knew it or not –to seize this moment to build and cultivate deep, God centered relationships. You are some of our heroes and we want to introduce you to all that read this blog with the hope and prayer that your example will have echoing effects in their lives. You have helped us to not waste our son’s life. We will waste Chase’s life if we retreat into solitude instead of cultivating deep, God-centered relationships with others.
No comments:
Post a Comment