In the Seasons of My Suffering

We live in a world where the majority wants to live an easy breezy life. Not many, if any, desire to experience discomfort of any kind. We want the world to be lollipops, gumdrops and sweet all the time, but don’t want to have the dental visits or bill for that lifestyle. In a perfect world things would flow smoothly, leaving no room for suffering of any kind, but alas that is not the world in which we live.

Suffering is inevitable. Death is inevitable. Pain is inevitable.There’s no way to get around it. We will all experience our own personal sufferings at one time or another. Some of the suffering will be self-inflicted, brought on by our own missteps. Other events of suffering will come at the hands of strangers and people we know.

I have survived many seasons of suffering in my life. I can say with all honesty that I played a major part in a lot of it. It’s said that “a hard head makes a soft butt” and that is absolutely true. I’ve had my share of spankings at the hands of the Father for my blatant disobedience on many occasions. I’ve gone left when He’s said go right more times than I care to admit.

I’ve also experienced suffering that was perpetrated against me at no fault of my own. This world is inherently evil. Thus, evil will find you, attack you and cause you pain. It may come through a family member being murdered, leaving your family devastated for years to come. Someone’s innocence may be stolen through molestation, rape or incest at the hands of strangers or through friendly or familial fire.

However it comes, or whenever it comes, it’s imperative that we not allow it to break us. We have to stand through the pain and devastation of it all. There are going to be days when you want to throw in the towel. Don’t! Cry if you must. Scream if you must. Throw an all out tantrum if you must. But, don’t give in. Live to fight another day. You will survive. You were created to survive. You are an answer to a question someone has. Live for you. Live for those connected to you. Live for your earthly assignment. You got this! We got this! Let’s take it one day at a time.

Praying for you continually,

T. Ra’Shane Simon