“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands. Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.”
I love that scripture because it’s has comforted me many times as well as has often given me hope during the hardest trial of my life-MS. Sometimes having MS is really hard but this scripture somehow makes it okay and gives me perspective.
In hard times I’ve thought, “O God, where art thou? How long…?” But I’m comforted because, according to this scripture, God reaches out to me “Peace be unto thy soul” and then gives me hope “Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” I know in my heart that my challenge can be overcome and that what I suffer will be but a small moment in the grand scheme of eternity. I know I need to endure, in faith, the things I suffer knowing that God will exalt me on high and that I’ll triumph over all my foes (everything that wants to defeat me.) That knowledge sustains me and spurs me forward.
Sometimes life isn’t fair and things are hard! But I can do it…I can be strong and grit my teeth and be determined and tell myself, I will do this! I can endure. Sometimes it’s not a matter of enduring “well” but just enduring. When it feels especially hard I’m not smiling but feel like crying because it’s hard, nevertheless I’m enduring because I won’t give up. Sometimes at the end of the day I’m exasperated and close to tears and all I can do is go to bed and think of the Lord telling me, “I never said it would be easy I only said it would be worth it” and know that tomorrow will be a new day and that things will be better and that I’ll go on and accomplish my goal.
Sometimes I tell myself, Thank goodness I’m not like Job! At least everyone isn’t against me – maybe some are but not all. I comfort myself by thinking My friends are still there and at least one friend will always be…my Lord. I love him and thank him for being with me. I realize that it could be worse and am glad that it isn’t.
One day I thought No more! and decided to climb my trial’s huge mountain. I set out early on my trek thinking I’ll do this. I’ll make it to the top. I won’t stop until I triumph. This won’t defeat me! And then I thought Lord, help me. Guide my feet. Help me make it. I know you want me to make it and I will with your help. Thank you for being there. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Thank you for being with me. And my plea turned into a prayer. I climbed my mountain one step at a time with the Lord in my mind and resolve in my heart and it was just Him and me.
I did it! I triumphed! I didn’t let it beat me! I thought when I stopped letting my trial control me. I’m stronger now. I’m not like that fragile little bird who was like me at the beginning of my trial but am like a mighty eagle soaring at the mountain’s top. I’m happy to be me once again and feel peace as I look at the horizon. :) <3