“The promises of God are what give us hope in the midst of affliction. . .” Pastor Thorn

As we approach Easter, I understand that many people are feeling it hard to rejoice. If God is love and cares about us, why are we going through such physical pain and other hardships?

I recently came across a sermon at entitled “Trials (Part 1)” given by Pastor Joe Thorn at Redeemer Fellowship. It looked like a good one and I asked Debbi Farmer if she would listen and let me know her thoughts. Below is her review on this podcast sermon that you can listen to here on Trials. It is an MP3 file.

If you hear a fantastic sermon on suffering, illness, pain, etc. that is available to listen to online, feel free to write up what it is about and why it touched you in a couple of paragraphs and we will consider sharing it!

Lisa Copen

_______________________________________

By Debbi Farmer

Redeemer Fellowship is in St. Charles, IL and it is a gospel-centered church. Their web site states, “we believe Christianity is better than a list of rules, and more than believing the right things. The Christian life is a life transformed by the gospel, experienced in community, and lived out for the glory of God and the good of our neighbors.”

Pastor Joe Thorn’s sermon “Trials” (Part 1), is based on James 1 and in it he talks about suffering.

His key points about trials and suffering are:

1. It strengthens our faith
2. It deepens our relationship with Christ
3. It makes us mature as we trust in Him

James 1:2-8 says,

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Most all of us have endured severe trials, suffering, pain and affliction in our lives.

What kind of questions do you ask yourself about your pain and suffering?

1. “What is God doing in my life?”
2. How can we find joy in our trials?
3. Can our inflictions be used in our lives?
4. Is my suffering in my life for a divine purpose?
5. Do we take all our trials to the Lord in prayer?
6. Is sin the reason I am going through this trial?
7. If we are to by joyous in our trails than what is joy?

What is this sermon about?

I believe you will find his speaking style easy to listen to and encouraging, regardless of what you are going through today. Here are some of the highlights by Pastor Thorn.

• Did you know that our trials aren’t meant to test our discipline, but our dependency on Christ?
• Trials are like storms and we have to weather that storm. It is the wind in that storm that will ultimately drive you to where you need to go!
• We are to be joyous in trials. . . but what is joy?
• Joy is not happy, bubbly, or smiling through suffering. Joy is the “Holy Hopeful Happiness” that we have in God and His promises! We look to God as our redeemer and trust him to make it all work together for our good.
• Joy is theological not superficial. Joy is hopeful; it is embracing the promises of God.
• God will not leave you or forsake you and He will cause you to grow in your faith.
• Your interaction through the trial can get you to the joy of the Lord.
• Testing of your faith through trials produces steadfastness and leads you to maturity.
• Every child longs to grow up! As children of the Lord, we strive to persevere without falling, but growing up takes time and maturity.
• You will face trials in your life! Trials are the school that God uses to test your faith! Trials prove your dependency on Christ.
• Can you rejoice in grief?
• Your faith is the most precious thing to hold onto in this life!
• You will not be defeated by the circumstances of your life! You cannot go on, on your own, but you can in Christ!
• You need to rest in Christ! We need to continue to grow in Christ. The whole body of Christ needs to grow in maturity.
• The church must become mature and complete. How can we do this? We need wisdom (insight from God)! If you lack wisdom ask God.
• How do I make sense of my life right now? Are you shouting because this trial was not in our plan for life? Remember we are to seek God’s will!
• God is our father and ready to give all good things to his children. Don’t be surprise by the manner that God gives you His wisdom! So if you pray for rain, carry an umbrella! Believe it! Expect an answer when you pray. Everyone is called to believe in Jesus! Trust Him. Pray!

Why I enjoyed this sermon

This sermon helped me discover how to have joy in the trials of my life. I hope that it will do the same for you! Why don’t you tune in and see if you discover why your trials are so important in your growing faith in Christ? The sermon was a blessing in my life today!

Interested in listening to Part 2, the pastor’s second sermon on trials? You can find it here.

Debbi Farmer is a part-time writer, mother and wife and loves to read! She is praying for all today to persevere through their trials as they learn to lean on Jesus!

I began this in 2002 and it’s reached out to hundreds of thousands of people over the years, encouraging them that they are not alone.

This year we will not be having a “live show.” I made this decision earlier in the year for many reasons, and have been glad I listened to the Lord’s instruction. August I was sick most of the month from an allergic reaction to a medication.

The day after my son returned to school, for the first time in 15 years my computer had it’s hard drive go bad. (On an 18-month old computer!) It was at the shop a week and just I it was returned last week I started installing programs when San Diego had their record-breaking electrical outage. No power, plus school cancelled the next day.

So I sit here the evening before, watching shows on 9/11 and wondering where Invisible Illness Week fits into it all. Perhaps the same message I have always tried to tell people who are hurting–

You are not alone.

Someone cares.

God cares.

Yes, life is hard. The world is full of suffering. . .

But God cares, and He is listening. Just talk to Him. Just talk.

Bless you,
Lisa

Many of you are familiar with Cecil Murphy, if not from one of his 100+ books, then from the lovely book, “90 Minutes in Heaven” (which we carry at Rest Ministries bookstore!)

Twila says, “We’ll have a bit of fun and give you the opportunity to learn the inside scoop on Cec. And we’ll dialogue about a different topic each weeksometimes tough topics.”

In light of so much recent news in the media about lawsuits surrounding the issue of sexual abuse, and because Cec is a survivor and has written When a Man You Love Was Abused: A Woman’s Guide to Helping Him Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation , we’ll discuss that topic during our first show. If you listen to the live streaming, call in with questions and comments at 877-864-4869. We’ll also give away a few books. If you’re unable to listen live, you’ll be able to download the shows from the Toginet website.

On Wednesday, October 6, 11 am-noon CST, Cec will do a free one-hour webinar for Kyria on identifying and overcoming abuse. He will discuss his own experience with childhood physical, verbal, and sexual abuse and how it affected his relationships and his faith into adulthood. He will also help church leaders, family members, and friends know symptoms to look for in someone they think may be abused, as well as appropriate ways to help in the healing process.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Cec knows what it means to walk the journey of cancer with someone he loves, and he’s written a beautiful, practical gift book called When Someone You Love Has Cancer: Comfort and Encouragement for Caregivers and Loved Ones . If someone you love has cancer, or if you know of a caregiver who needs a bit of comfort, this book with Cec’s spirit-lifting thoughts makes a nice gift.

Joel and Lisa, 1996

“I’m not going to kiss you…”

Who would ever think that hearing these words from your spouse would be considered a sign of his deep love? As my husband and I celebrated our 14th anniversary recently at a nice hotel on the Oregon Coast, we walked on the beach hand in hand, and finally, after 3 days I said, “Just kiss me!” so he did.

He’d been in the state of “getting sick” for the last week on and off. The 1000-mile drive (and all the caffeine I kept handing him on the way to stay awake) had not exactly helped him fight it off.

Yep, that kiss was really stepping out of a safety zone. I’m glad to say I didn’t get sick.

Some of you may laugh. If you don’t have a chronic illness, you may think this all sounds a bit odd. I mean, who is going to get sick from one quick little kiss, right?

Well. . . me. And maybe you too, if you have a less than effective immune system.

Some of us may remember when we were young and in love and if the one we cared about was sick we just said “Ah, kiss me anyway.”

If we didn’t yet have a chronic illness our immune system could fight off the few germs from a kiss. And if we actually got sick? Well, that was just romantic, right?

About 6 weeks after I was officially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1993, my husband (who was just a boyfriend at the time) got the chicken pox. Despite our best of efforts for me to avoid it, I remember being at work and getting a horribly sore throat in a matter of an hour. I went home, and soon the sores started to appear on the rest of my body.

Although we’d been in our twenties, neither one of us had ever had the chicken pox. I remember him coming over to my home (where I rented a room) and we sat on the couch for hours watching movies. It wan’t fun, but I had been able to get on medications quickly to avoid the worst of the pox. He wasn’t so lucky. He had an allergic reaction and was quite miserable.

But there was a certain amount of “we’re in this together” feeling. As the saying goes, “shared hardship creates intimacy.” And yes, sharing chicken pox did create relationship memories. We thought we’d have stories to tell our child someday when he got them. Instead, he just got a vaccinne.

Now we aren’t so “romantic.” There are better ways to creat memories in a relationship and we have enough “shared hardships” that happen naturally without allowing new ones to happen, like shared colds.

Is a rushed kiss worth me being sick for weeks or maybe months? Nope! Is it worth me having to go off of my immuno-suppressant medications? The risk of possible upper respiratory infection? Uh, no.It turns not only my health upside down, but our entire household.

Can all of this hurt a relationship? Yes, it can if you let it. When it comes to intimacy within a marriage where chronic illness exists it takes a great deal of communication, a sense of humor, and . . . love.

Because when my husband stood there in front of friends and family and pledged to love me in sickness and in health in 1996, he knew the odds were that there would be a lot more sickness than health. He knew the difference between having an illness and “being sick.” He didn’t know all that would happen, but he promised to be there beside me. . . and he has been.

You know you have a chronic illness within your marriage, when your spouse puts on surgical gloves before caring for your wound and you aren’t even slightly humiliated. Or when you MUST get along (even when you are both stressed and driving each other nuts) because he is the only one in the house who can run the computer that is attached to your IV that gives you your doses of medication.

I realize how blessed I am to have a loving husband who stands beside me (some days to prop me up). He’s not perfect, and neither am I, but together, we are learning to walk the path of both marriage and illness together. And most days I do get a kiss!

To hear more from Rest Ministries founder, Lisa Copen and her husband Joel, listen to the podcast they did together on marriage and illness for National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week 2009.

Joel & Lisa, 4/13/1996

“I’m not going to kiss you.”

Who would ever think that hearing these words from your spouse would be considered a sign of his deep love? As my husb& & I celebrated our 14th anniversary recently at a nice hotel on the Oregon Coast, we walked on the beach h& in h&, & finally, after 3 days I said, “Just kiss me!” so he did.

He’d been in the state of “getting sick” for the last week on & off. The 1000-mile drive (& all the caffeine I kept h&ing him on the way to stay awake) had not exactly helped him fight it off.

Yep, that kiss was really stepping out of a safety zone. I’m glad to say I didn’t get sick.

Some of you may laugh. If you don’t have a chronic illness, you may think this all sounds a bit odd. I mean, who is going to get sick from one quick little kiss, right?

Well. . . me. And maybe you too, if you have a less than effective immune system.

Some of us may remember when we were young & in love & if the one we cared about was sick we just said “Ah, kiss me anyway.”

If we didn’t yet have a chronic illness our immune system could fight off the few germs from a kiss. And if we actually got sick? Well, that was just romantic, right?

About 6 weeks after I was officially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1993, my husb& (who was just a boyfriend at the time) got the chicken pox. Despite our best of efforts for me to avoid it, I remember being at work & getting a horribly sore throat in a matter of an hour. I went home, & soon the sores started to appear on the rest of my body.

Although we’d been in our twenties, neither one of us had ever had the chicken pox. I remember him coming over to my home (where I rented a room) & we sat on the couch for hours watching movies. It wan’t fun, but I had been able to get on medications quickly to avoid the worst of the pox. He wasn’t so lucky. He had an allergic reaction & was quite miserable.

But there was a certain amount of “we’re in this together” feeling. As the saying goes, “shared hardship creates intimacy.” And yes, sharing chicken pox did create relationship memories. We thought we’d have stories to tell our child someday when he got them. Instead, he just got a vaccinne.

Now we aren’t so “romantic.” There are better ways to creat memories in a relationship & we have enough “shared hardships” that happen naturally without allowing new ones to happen, like shared colds.

Is a rushed kiss worth me being sick for weeks or maybe months? Nope! Is it worth me having to go off of my immuno-suppressant medications? The risk of possible upper respiratory infection? Uh, no.It turns not only my health upside down, but our entire household.

Can all of this hurt a relationship? Yes, it can if you let it. When it comes to intimacy within a marriage where chronic illness exists it takes a great deal of communication, a sense of humor, & . . . love.

Because when my husb& stood there in front of friends & family & pledged to love me in sickness & in health in 1996, he knew the odds were that there would be a lot more sickness than health. He knew the difference between having an illness & “being sick.” He didn’t know all that would happen, but he promised to be there beside me. . . & he has been.

You know you have a chronic illness within your marriage, when your spouse puts on surgical gloves before caring for your wound & you aren’t even slightly humiliated. Or when you MUST get along (even when you are both stressed & driving each other nuts) because he is the only one in the house who can run the computer that is attached to your IV that gives you your doses of medication.

I realize how blessed I am to have a loving husb& who st&s beside me (some days to prop me up). He’s not perfect, & neither am I, but together, we are learning to walk the path of both marriage & illness together. And most days I do get a kiss!

To hear more from Rest Ministries founder, Lisa Copen & her husb& Joel, listen to the podcast they did together on marriage & illness for National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week 2009.

Presentations from the national summit, “Companions on the Road to Recovery from Mental Illness: Pathways for the 21st Century,” are now available on-line as free downloads. (This is a pdf)

It was held in October of 2009 in St. Louis, MO. The conference agenda is posted on pathways2promise.org with embedded links to some 20 of the presentations from the conference.

Reprinted with permission by Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, Coordinator of Mental Health Ministries

Last year I read this Christian counselor’s book 12 Ways to Turn Your Pain into Praise: Biblical Steps to Wholeness in Christ & was very blessed by it. She has written for HopeKeepers Magazine & was a guest on my radio podcast, Hope Endures. I know she has blessed many of you with that interview.

If you have not had the opportunity to hear our interview yet, I thought you may be interested before reading our interview on Friday. She talks about how we can find the blessings even in the pain.

If you have, you likely found some parts of it helpful and encouraging. But perhaps you also found some of it depressing, of little benefit, even too much to hear.

Although they may be helpful at first, they can have the tendency to become a place where people get together and vent their frustrations and then everyone goes home.

One woman says, “I began to feel like I should have just stayed home and taken a nap!”

Although secular support groups have benefits, they are rarely a place where you can talk freely about your faith and your spiritual walk.

For the Christian, support groups can be frustrating because they rarely encourage a person to share their spiritual struggles, growth or questions. Oftentimes everyone’s hope is placed on the next drug approved or a new alternative treatment. HopeKeepers groups are different!

Listen to our 1-hour program on starting a support group and why Christian HopeKeepers Groups are different!

Related articles

• 10 Tips to Avoid Your Illness Support Group Becoming Depressing (restministries.com)