Comments on: Pain and Hope http://bethstedman.com/2009/07/11/pain-and-hope/ Mon, 21 May 2012 20:54:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tara Malouf http://bethstedman.com/2009/07/11/pain-and-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-653 Tara Malouf Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:07:29 +0000 http://bethstedman.com/?p=602#comment-653 Amen, amen. This chapter is where I began my descent into God in the midst of much pain and turmoil 7 years ago. My experience is that He (and His faithfulness) is to be found in the darkness. Many ancient writers will refer to it as "the dark night". However, most of our Western notions about God don't allow for Him to be found in suffering, let alone Him causing the suffering. I don't fully get it either, but it has been God's fierce mercy in my life. Somehow there is the hand of Strong Love behind the hurling me into darkness...I just need to not run from the darkness and wait for Him when He has walled me in and barred my way. Thanks for writing this Bethany! It reminds me today of the journey God has taken me on (and on which I still have far to go)! Amen, amen. This chapter is where I began my descent into God in the midst of much pain and turmoil 7 years ago. My experience is that He (and His faithfulness) is to be found in the darkness. Many ancient writers will refer to it as “the dark night”. However, most of our Western notions about God don’t allow for Him to be found in suffering, let alone Him causing the suffering. I don’t fully get it either, but it has been God’s fierce mercy in my life. Somehow there is the hand of Strong Love behind the hurling me into darkness…I just need to not run from the darkness and wait for Him when He has walled me in and barred my way.

Thanks for writing this Bethany! It reminds me today of the journey God has taken me on (and on which I still have far to go)!

]]> By: Sarah http://bethstedman.com/2009/07/11/pain-and-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-652 Sarah Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:10:17 +0000 http://bethstedman.com/?p=602#comment-652 I think you articulate it very well. I know that my Hellenistic cultural heritage (mixed with a heritage of traditional religious denial) hasn't prepared me well for seasons of suffering, grief, and loss. I agree with your conclusions. The only way through is honesty - honesty about our own feelings - even things like anger at God and frustration at Him. David and the Psalms are a pretty good reference point (I think) of someone wrestling with dark and painful seasons. I think you articulate it very well. I know that my Hellenistic cultural heritage (mixed with a heritage of traditional religious denial) hasn’t prepared me well for seasons of suffering, grief, and loss.

I agree with your conclusions. The only way through is honesty – honesty about our own feelings – even things like anger at God and frustration at Him. David and the Psalms are a pretty good reference point (I think) of someone wrestling with dark and painful seasons.

]]> By: Carrie http://bethstedman.com/2009/07/11/pain-and-hope/comment-page-1/#comment-651 Carrie Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:55:42 +0000 http://bethstedman.com/?p=602#comment-651 This chapter continues to haunt me.I think I saw a little more this week how I can truly say, he has made me dwell in darkness, he has walled me in. Terror in my heart this week. And at the same time I feel held in my pain by God. This is not exactly comforting though. He is with me in my pain and knows it, but it doesn't diminish it. He is my portion means to me that this pain also is my portion. God is my portion, even the pain. Is this right thinking? It is messy. I am struggling tobe in this with God. Comfort does not come but pure terror does not reign in my heart either. Lord have mercy. This chapter continues to haunt me.I think I saw a little more this week how I can truly say, he has made me dwell in darkness, he has walled me in. Terror in my heart this week. And at the same time I feel held in my pain by God. This is not exactly comforting though. He is with me in my pain and knows it, but it doesn’t diminish it. He is my portion means to me that this pain also is my portion. God is my portion, even the pain. Is this right thinking? It is messy. I am struggling tobe in this with God. Comfort does not come but pure terror does not reign in my heart either. Lord have mercy.

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