The believer's hope..

[John D]

I posted this on a diffrent forum and would like to compare the different comments. There is no question asked, but please,do comment or give your views!


Rom 5:3 -5 .. Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn't disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to
us. ......................

It is quite a long walk in the spirit to come to the point of living in hope - God's hope. Sometimes we think we "hope" for the saving grace of our Lord and
saviour, but it was my experience that I replaced "hope" and "faith" with "wishing". That is nothing else than : my will and not God's.
I've seen many beatiful children of God crash and burn because of this. I, myself have done this and end up blaming God for not hearing my prayers or not caring.
Human "wishing" can never replace the hope that the Holy Spirit work in us. And Hope's seeds are planted in the flowerbed of suffering.
When sufering starts in your life, know that God is busy with a perseverence lesson - it is not about your physical suffering, as humans we only focus on that. God wants to learn you perseverence (maybe for a certain task He wants you to perform.The fruit of Perseverence is Godly character and a Godly character have this Hope that doesn't disappoint.
But it all starts at a place culled "suffering".
I know there are someone out there that thinks God has abandon you because of the trails and difficult circumstances in your life - just look a bid deeper . look at your ability to hang in there - has it been developed or was there allways somebody around to sort out your mess. Maybe it is time te learn!
God is busy with a work of art and a work of love in your life, He is
not punishing you

 

[no-body]

I think the simple answer is to take it at face value, when you accept the kingdom of heaven everything is love. Even suffering and pain are transformed into good things; Dwelling on suffering from an intellectual level is pointless.

Luke 17 "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation"

Issiah 11 "and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears... and the wolf will lie down with the lamb"

Job 1:21 "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding,"

 

[John D]

I think the simple answer is to take it at face value, when you accept the kingdom of heaven everything is love. Even suffering and pain are transformed into good things; Dwelling on suffering from an intellectual level is pointless.

Luke 17 "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation"

Issiah 11 "and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears... and the wolf will lie down with the lamb"

Job 1:21 "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding,"

As 3-D beings you cannot ignore physical or mental suffering. It wil demand a choice and then a reaction from you.
We don't learn life's lessons easy.!
But it is on this suffering walkways of life that the seeds for development is sown.
That is way it is pointless to ask the Question: "How can a God of love allows....."
We are caught up in the aftermath of a choice - Ours or somebody elses.
We must counteract with wisdom on it in order to change the future for those that still coming

 

[no-body]

As 3-D beings you cannot ignore physical or mental suffering. It wil demand a choice and then a reaction from you.
We don't learn life's lessons easy.!

It's not about ignoring suffering, it's about embracing it and seeing it totally as it is in reality so as not to create anymore suffering than necessary, to learn from it. "The kingdom of heaven is within" studying the aloofness of God leads to a shift in consciousness. In this way hell becomes heaven, the negative becomes a positive, every aspect of life is a deep teaching on how to live and think and be.

But it is on this suffering walkways of life that the seeds for development is sown.

That is way it is pointless to ask the Question: "How can a God of love allows....."
We are caught up in the aftermath of a choice - Ours or somebody elses.
We must counteract with wisdom on it in order to change the future for those that still coming

I agree that it is pointless but only after we know God personally, when you know the kingdom of heaven you know that the intellectual questions are petty in the light of God and a deeper understanding takes hold.

Mind you I have only had small insights into this point of view or else I wouldn't even be discussing it. So this is only my humble understanding with the knowledge I have so far.

 

[John D]

It's not about ignoring suffering, it's about embracing it and seeing it totally as it is in reality so as not to create anymore suffering than necessary, to learn from it. "The kingdom of heaven is within" studying the aloofness of God leads to a shift in consciousness. In this way hell becomes heaven, the negative becomes a positive, every aspect of life is a deep teaching on how to live and think and be.

I agree that it is pointless but only after we know God personally, when you know the kingdom of heaven you know that the intellectual questions are petty in the light of God and a deeper understanding takes hold.

Mind you I have only had small insights into this point of view or else I wouldn't even be discussing it. So this is only my humble understanding with the knowledge I have so far.

......My spiritual life is based on these principals, it takes awile to exept the fact that you are supposed to learn fram negative things in your life. To actualy see it as an oppertunity to grow.
And you are so right - without a personal relationship with God, things will eventually wear you down.