It doesn't matter where you live on this planet or how you were raised or how much money you have. Troubles are everywhere and no human can escape them. I have never been a fan of comparing our troubles. When my husband was very sick and going through chemo, I will never forget finding out that one of my friends was dealing with her husband's job loss and she had hidden this from me. I asked her why she didn't tell me and she said, "I felt embarrassed because what you are going through is so much worse".
This made me so very sad. I grabbed her and hugged her and said, "Chica, no need to compare because what your family is enduring is so stressful and hard and I'm here for you just like you've been here for me." She and I agreed in that moment that we would pray for each other. We didn't know how things would be resolved, but ultimately, my husband got better and her husband got an even higher level position.
Over the years, I have seen troubles that are even worse than stage four cancer. I have suffered through some circumstances that have nearly killed me. I am currently in a whirlwind of troubles that have me physically almost unable to get out of bed. Yet, God gives me the strength I need in the moment I need it to get up and to do what I must do. He is a faithful God who truly never leaves us or forsakes us. He is true to His word and He keeps all His promises.
It does not always feel that way. Sometimes it feels like Our Father in Heaven is cruel and unloving. It feels like He has left the building and we are on our own being fed to the wolves. Our eyes just can't see what His can see. We might not like this truth, but the way we grow and learn is through the piles of troubles and experiences that are not necessarily pleasant.
And one of the hardest truths is that we can't truly learn from other people's experiences. We have to learn from our own. Oh, we can be blessed by the wisdom of others when they share their lessons learned from experience. We can take notes and apply some of their lessons to our own lives, especially if we are experiencing something similar to what they endured. I have personally shared many great tips and advice to young caregivers of cancer patients over the years and they certainly appreciate my wisdom, but they still have to get through the wretched illness on their own and learn their own lessons along the way.
Today I am in deep distress because of several experiences I am being forced to endure at once. It is really tough, but I am choosing to remember that at the end of all of this, I will have learned a really great lesson and it will be worth the pain. Just when you think you have learned all the lessons you have to learn, you are reminded that until you take your final breath, you have much to learn. How exhausting! But also, thank you Lord for always being with us through the tough times even if we cannot feel Your presence.
Off I go to learn. Pray for me to stay strong.
