Recognizing true happiness as you write your prayers
Fourth of a 6-part teaching series
by Marc Sandin
U.S. Army Sergeant Ray White stepped off the C130 that had brought him and his unit back to American soil for the first time in 18 months. He kissed the ground, ran to his wife and children, and thanked God for bringing him home from duty in Afghanistan.
Several short months later, through a tumultuous emotional roller coaster, Ray’s family discovered he was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It was a dark time, full of anxiety and fear for Ray and his family.
Andrew’s working conditions had steadily worsened. Due to exhaustion from overtime and stressful personality conflicts with management, he caused two rear-end fender benders within a span of six weeks.
The next week, Andrew lost his job due to cutbacks; he, his wife and two-year-old daughter were now living on one small income with higher insurance premiums, various bills and debts to pay.
Like Ray and Andrew you, too, have a real-life story of hardship, loss or suffering. Yet you’ll find help – even joy – in getting through these trying times by journaling your tribulations as you also pray about them.
The first chapter of James says that not only should Christ followers expect suffering to come their way, but 1) they should rejoice despite it, and 2) rejoice even because of it. Ephesians 6 proclaims that though believers in Jesus suffer trials, their more meaningful struggle is against unseen forces that define their thoughts, loyalties and desires.
Journaling can give incredible perspective and longevity to the power of your prayer, and an appreciation of what it means to share in the sufferings of Christ. Your Father intends for you to understand His Son’s sacrifice and He implements that understanding by letting you experience difficulty and even pain. This, in turn, produces a heart reinforced by God’s sovereign grace instead of succumbing to anxiety over your poor circumstances: “We suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:17) Just like the night is darkest just before the dawn, isn’t it also true that you’re most grateful for your health after you have just recovered from sickness?
Being thankful is also not about simply seeing the glass half full, but about appreciating God’s purpose for hurtful trials in your life. God allows suffering (like Job) and even intentionally causes suffering (King Saul, 1 Samuel 18) for His glory and exaltation. For the Christian heart, true suffering has a way of humbling pride and demolishing ego so that God may be more fully displayed through you. Romans 8:18-21 illuminates this powerful concept:
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility…in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
This passage also highlights the fact that not only does pain increase the pleasure of joy, but that pain should also be a mechanism for a joyful attitude in mature Christ followers, who prize the knowledge of His perfection over the happiness brought by His blessing.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year – despite unemployment, medical illness or marital tension – remember that there is a spiritual benefit from God’s sovereignty over the suffering He allows. Also understand that being happy with what God has given you is not the same as being thankful for a relationship with the person of the Holy Spirit: of loving the gift-giver more than the gift simply because He gave it. That’s the true purpose of Thanksgiving: to exult in the truth of the Heavenly Father Himself, His personality and character, rather than just the good circumstances He may supply.
And when the chips are down, journal the hard things that God is allowing in your life in order to shape your character…and to remind you of His loving and sovereign control over your life, and over your nation, no matter what.
A writer for the Vantage Point devotional series, Marc Sandin is a writer and graphic designer in Tucson, AZ where he resides with his wife Anna and daughter Kaelyn.