"When God

 

wants to make you successful 

he doesn't start

by giving you comfort.

He starts by taking it away.

He will test you patience

in ways you don't understand.

He will put you in situations

where nothing makes sense.

(Do I ever remember, 

praying on my knees:

crying, begging

"I just want it all to make sense!"

At one point in my life?

It was literally all I wanted:

"Just make it all make sense!")

"He will isolate you.

Not to hurt you

but to grow you.

Because in silence

you hear him clearer."

(Psalm 46:10

Be still

and know that I am God.)

"In struggle

you discover

your strength"

(Makes me think of a certain preacher friend of mine...

shes female lol.

Romans 5:3-5

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

It is a big reason why 

I just can not stand

all this pretribulation rapture 

garbage.

Not to mention the fact 

as has been pointed out repeatedly

that it contradicts so much other scripture,

and that it would seem like

if that was the way 

it was all going to go down

at the end of this age?

 Christ himself 

would have explicitly said so.

He never once did.

Plus it didn't come on the scene till the 1800's.

etc...its just a no-brainer it just really is.)

"and in uncertainty

your faith gets built.

He will challenge you

again and again.

Until the old version

 of you breaks.

And a stronger, 

wiser version

is born.

Because before he gives you

the life you dream of,

he builds the person

who can actually handle it

protect it and not loose it.

So if you are going

through a hard season right now

don't see it as punishment

see it as preparation."

I have no idea 

who was talking in the video

the IG account I got this from

didnt say.

All I know is

she was an older woman

and the video didn't look 

to be that recent.

If I had not 

come to understand:

"He will challenge you

again and again.

Until the old version

 of you breaks.

And a stronger, 

wiser version

is born."

was the exact process 

that I was going through?

(And It took a long time 

to come to that realization BTW

Years...Like 7 or 8...

go figure lol)

But if I hadn't come to understand

what was going on and why?

I would not have made it through it.

And it is for that reason 

and that reason alone I can say

with full confidence:

"I just wanna thank God 

Im alive and well enough 

to be with you here today."

(SRV quote BTW)

I am also reminded me of  John Wesleys

"Second work of grace"

leading to

"Christian perfection"

etc...

"Leads to Christian perfection,

not sinless perfection or a state 

where mistakes are impossible, 

but a heart fully governed by pure, 

perfect love for God and neighbor."

And love warns 

of impending judgement(s),

it doesn't say:

"We get out of here 

before all the trouble starts."

In the caption of the video posted it said:

"This reflects 

a love 

that chooses 

the other’s ease 

over its own suffering."

The same account

but a different video 

of an unknown elderly man 

spiting some truth...

"Any woman can be replaced

(Or man)

but the one who stood by you

when you had nothing,

supported you

at your lowest,

Encouraged you

when no one believed,

and chose you 

over men

who could give her the world?

That kinda woman

(Or man)

IS

irreplaceable."

And I know it 

and that is why 

I sing to honey lyrics 

from an R.L. Burnside song 

we both like:

"I'm going with you baby,

I'm going with you baby,

I'm going with you baby,

and I don't care where you go..."

And I know 

she feels the same

because, 

as she told me once:

"You saw me 

when I was invisible."

So yeah...

Were stuck with each other lol.

How blessed are we?

Pretty blessed.

"The weight of your assignment

is synonymous with

the weight of your pain."

Philip Anthony Mitchell

And all of that 

just  happened to have found me yesterday,

and it is all very appropriate

for our particular circumstances right now.

I've said it a million times:

"I dont go looking for things...

They just find me."

And the timing just gives it away

who is driving the process...

It really does.