First, thanks to all that uplifted me in prayer this week.

Well we had the operation, this time.  Right now I am still very groggy and foggy, I was under 6.5 hours as they worked on me.

Stiff and sore as well as in pain, I am thinking ‘hope it is worth it.’  However, it was either that or have problems functioning the rest of my life.  It may take a while before we know the full results of the operation.

Doc says it is about 70% chance of doing the job (book says 85% but he wants to be realistic – especially since we have had some difficulties.)

Will write a bit more in a day or two.

Psalm 143:3-4 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

⁴ Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

The Psalmists wrote from the heart to God.  They poured out their fears and their faith in Him.

I was reading an article that talked about how we love to hear about those that have survived persecution and came out glorifying God.  We love those stories of victory.

But what about those that have gone through all means of persecution – humiliation, torture, imprisonment and serious injury – and came out hurt and confused?

All of these people were tortured, not by God, but by satan.  Satan knows their weaknesses and hammers on those.  He does all he can to make them feel overwhelmed and their very soul feels like it is sucked out of their body.

Those that have not gone through it cannot understand the torture of the mind and soul that has occurred in these people.  Many come back to a world that has changed; their families have learned to deal with their absence.  The family and others may resent them for causing such pain in their lives – if they had but renounced Jesus they would have been home and helping the family.

Millions have been abducted, tortured, imprisoned and lost all they had in the name of Christ.  We think on those that have a positive testimony, who came through it all and were able to go about their lives with little distress.  Rejoicing in the fact they felt worthy to be incarcerated for Jesus sake.

In deed, Jesus has told us to rejoice when being persecuted.

Mathew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

But we are humans who have emotions that satan can use against us.  We can cry out why don’t others understand what we have gone through?  Why can’t we overcome and go on rejoicing in God’s grace, knowing what lies ahead for us?

We have heard so many positive stories that we think they should all be the same, everyone so persecuted should come out smiling, forgiving their tormentors and have an optimistic outlook on life.  Yet, they are people, with real fears, real torments, real depression.  They are people who need God’s love and sometimes can’t accept it, or understand it.

I had never really thought about that part before, not having gone through what many Christians through ages have gone through I have wondered how they (and I) could do it – however, I never considered coming through it and having to still deal with the demons that satan keeps sending us.

Survivors come home from the war and they are changed, they have seen death and dismemberments, they have had friends who have been killed in front of them, they have had to kill others.  Them come home and no one understands them, understands why they are so traumatized.  Many think they should ‘just get over it.’

The same is true of those who have faced unspeakable imprisonment and torture because of their faith.  They try to tell someone, but they are not understood – shouldn’t they just trust in God and ‘get over it?’  Why are they being so obstinate?

All too frequently these people, who have been solid Christians and have lived their life for Him, are going through things that we just don’t understand.  While the ideal is to rejoice in our afflictions because we have stood for Christ – as admonished both by Jesus and the Apostles – it can be very difficult for them.  They are still people, people that satan has worked over unmercifully; and it isn’t easy for them to understand why others, family and friends, can’t relate with them.

They need our understanding, even if it is just our  understanding that they are going through things we don’t understand.

We need to pray for and with them.  We need to give them comfort, and strive to make it as easy for them as we can.  They may have no idea why they are suffering as they are; they may feel guilty because they ‘can’t get over it’ and go into a deeper depression.

Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

² Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ

WE need to learn to bear one another’s burden, not casting judgement, but pray that the Holy Spirit will do a work within them and help them cast out all the terror they are feeling.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again