The Valley

The Spirit Filled Life.    C. Stanley

Many people discover the wonderful Spirit-filled life in the valley than in any other place. God uses sicknesses, financial pressures, whatever it takes. Because once He finally has our attention, He knows the best is yet to come.

I read in passing Paul's words on "light and momentary trials" right before the flare I am in but going out of. I think of those with cancer who have shortened lives, but a (or many) miserable chemo and radiation therapy sessions. I think of parents who lose children to a tragic accident, or children who lose mama or daddy to a tragic accident. Or, as me, suffer a chronic illness for life.
Our life here is as close to hell as we will ever see. We will escape everlasting torment, and be called to stand before the King, our Father.
I wonder so much about our lives had the Fall never occurred; what the world was like. I have greatly increased interest in the fact that God came and walked with Adam and Eve in the evening (one of my favorite times of day). Here was a place that the world's first human sinners were blocked from getting to by a flaming sword...perhaps a near symbolism of those in torment at the End of Days, looking toward Paradise---but instead living in a godless world of brokenness. 

We do find the Trinity during the hardest of times...sometimes we start saying He isn't answering us! He is so far away! Why won't He stop this from happening! etc., etc.,...but while we are such a mood of shouting and grieving, moaning and crying, we often do not lay ourselves out and be at peace and at a quiet long enough for us to feel His presence becoming closer. All we have to do is ask, and be willing to be still.  I am reminded of the mourners outside the home of the dead girl, and while it was the father (and I assume mother's) wish to have Jesus there to heal her---all the mourners did was laugh. They were all sent away, (although one or two of the gospels has it written that they were professional mourners) and did not see the glory of the Lamb working. They did not believe for one, but nor did they have the patience to wait outside the gates to see what happened. They were not willing to be still, and watch the glory of God.
I have not been as angry about the RA as I have in other things in my life, not mad enough with the RA to be mad at God, although I certainly ask why...but I think that that overwhelming impatience for a quick answer is not from us, nor from God...it is something that will keep us from God, from building a deeper relationship with our Abba, Father, and from being able to tap into the energy of God. When we don't get that quick, snappy "perfect" answer, many leave the faith. Although, I may have to agree with Randy Alcorn, in his book, "If God is Good", wherein he states that he rather a weak Christian, who rarely speaks of godly things, and if the person does, they are wrong, lose his pr her faith rather than provide toxin in the worldview of Christianity. However, and what a large however!, people who have weaker faith are often a "young" Christian...and sometimes young Christians are not taught how to grow, whether or not they face trials. 
Any relationship cannot be one sided and survive. So of course if you are reaching out for God He will answer. If you give up, and ignore His stirrings, then neither will "talk" for some time. If you never speak to your spouse, in all likelihood, the spouse will not speak back---and divorce may even become the finality to that relationship. Not speaking to family members will lead to whoever is involved to not be invited to family things. So of course, if you call upon the Lord, and what you wanted to happened did not, and you do not listen to what the Spirit begins trying to tell you, you will feel abandoned, and perhaps give up altogether.
But. If you listen and wait, listen for those stirrings of the Spirit as you think, read the Bible, admire the majesty of the (broken) world, you will find the relationship that is beyond all relationships deepening.