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Coffee and Camaraderie

 

This morning I did one of my absolutely favourite things—I met a friend for brunch. There is a small café five minutes down the road from me which is extremely popular and rightly so. The coffee is great and the food fantastic.

I haven’t seen my friend Lou for some months so it was with dismay that I noticed her limp as she entered the café. Having settled, she updated me on her life. She fell off some decking some time ago and badly injured her hip and now needs a hip replacement. She lives in constant pain and has been on crutches since the accident until the preceding week, when a steroid injection has helped considerably. Unfortunately the waiting list in the public system is long, and the Accident Compensation Corporation isn’t accepting her claim because X-rays show some arthritis in her hip. It seems so unfair.

As a Christian, it is tempting to think our lives should be easy and enjoyable. But of course we know better! Jesus himself told us we would have trouble in this world and this is especially true for our spiritual walk as the enemy seeks to tempt and deceive us. The New Century Version of the Bible says “In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.” The words ‘be brave’ is a great reminder about how we deal with the trouble and persecution that is to come. The general sense of this passage is that believers should remain faithful no matter what might come; indeed we should experience the peace of knowing that Jesus came to defeat the world. That doesn’t mean that it is easy when difficulties come; it doesn’t mean that we won’t get frustrated at what is going on in our lives. However, God has got this! He tells us in Isaiah 43:2 that He will walk with us through the waters (storms). We can have faith that God will never leave us and that He will use whatever circumstance we are in for our good; to grow us and strengthen our faith.

I watched a Christian podcast last night and the words that especially impacted me was when the guest touched on her incredibly painful past and remarked that she wouldn’t change a thing. Her close relationship with God which developed because of her circumstances was more than worth the pain she went through.

We try and avoid pain. However, sometimes there is nothing we can do. People die, often in horrendous circumstances; cyclones and earthquakes destroy homes; health deteriorates; accidents happen; miscarriages happen. We so often have no control over what life throws with us. Without minimising the pain that any of these things bring, we can trust God for He is faithful—ALWAYS.

I pray that this is true for you today, no matter what you are going through.

God bless you.

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