I have been working to become more organized in my daily tasks. Rather than ironing shirts as they are needed, I’m trying to look at the week ahead and do my ironing all at once. This means I can easily spend an hour ironing. This is boring. When I was a little girl, my mother would do her ironing at one designated time, too, and I would spend that time jabbering to her about the important issues of the day. I’m sure her time just flew by! (ha!)

I don’t have a “jabberer” in the family, so I have been listening to sermons during that time. This past week, I listened to the sermon, “Sufficient Grace” from 2 Cor. 12:1-10 by Dr. John MacArthur. I can’t explain fully how it blessed me, helped me, and gave me strength to go on! I thank God for his Word, and for His men. I hope you will have time to listen to it sometime.

I’m posting the link HERE for you, and I’d like to share the main points:

1. God uses suffering to humble us.
2. God uses suffering to draw us to himself.
3. God uses suffering to display his grace.
4. God uses suffering to perfect his power.

Conclusion: What is the right response to suffering? To embrace it.

Quotes that helped me:

“No one is too weak to be used by God, but many are too strong.”

“If you have any agenda other than God’s, you’re representing Satan.”

“If we boast, let it be of our weaknesses. When Paul defended his apostleship, he gave a litany of sufferings, not successes.”

“God is so concerned about the humility of a shepherd, that he may allow Satan to damage his church just to humble him.”

“What are the credentials of service to God? Suffering.”

Parents of adult children, you may find the words at 27:30 in this sermon to be a particular help. I did.

Do you listen to sermons regularly, or just in your church? Good Bible preaching is available 24/7, 365 in this day and age. That’s probably the best thing about the internet! We should take advantage of it while we can. It is a gift from God!