The Furnace of Suffering

Are you suffering?  Do you find yourself in a situation that is causing you great pain, either physical or emotional, or both?  Are you afraid of what tomorrow may bring?

No one likes to suffer.  We were not created to suffer.  We were created to enjoy God in all of His fullness and to live in joy and peace.  But sin entered the world and thwarted our original destiny. Hence, our suffering.

But suffering is not the end of the story.  Jesus Christ came to deliver us from suffering. The Word of God says that Christ died and rose again from the dead "to destroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:8).  Jesus Christ came to give us abundant life (John 10:10).

So, why do we continue to suffer?

One reason is that we are still in this world, and the world is infested with sin.  But I believe that the main reason for our continued suffering is to bring us to the point of total dependence on God.

We humans create for ourselves bastions of false security in which we place our trust.  We trust our jobs to give us security. We trust our governments to give us security. We trust our own strength to give us security.  But there is nothing and there is no one who can give us security but God.

The Lord uses suffering to unfasten our tight grip on our false securities.  He wants us to depend totally on Him. But we are so attached to our false securities that God must sometimes use drastic means to wrench us from them.  Hence, we suffer.

Are you now in the furnace of suffering? Then rejoice! God is pruning you, cleansing you, purifying you.  He is transforming you into the image of His own dear Son. 

Be encouraged by these words from our wonderful heavenly Father: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).
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Copyright 2014 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All rights reserved.
Photo by Jon Sullivan. http://www.public-domain-photos.com/

A Word to Persecuted Christians around the World

Many of you who are reading this live in countries where you are being severely persecuted for being a Christian.  I write as your sister in Christ to encourage you in the Lord.

Psalm 34:19 reminds us that "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

The Lord would say to you today, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, "Do not be discouraged and do not be afraid. I have not forgotten you.  I am nearer to you than you think.  I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Stand fast, for I will sustain you.  Keep your eyes focused on Me, for I am your refuge and your fortress.  In Me you will have peace in the midst of the storm.  Pray for your enemies.  Bless those who persecute you, for their eyes are blinded to the truth.  This world is fast passing away, but your reward is forever.  Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

Dear ones, let us keep our eyes on Jesus. As we do, He will give us perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).  As the Lord commands, "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

As the world grows darker and darker, the Light of Christ in you will grow brighter and brighter.  We are children of the Light, and Light always dispels darkness.  Let us stand strong in the Light, for that Light is ignited by Love.

And Love never fails.
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Copyright 2014 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. 

How Free Do You Want to Be?

How free do you want to be? Interesting question, isn't it? You may even think it's a ridiculous question. Of course, you want to be as free as you can be.  Who doesn't?

But did you know that the degree to which you are free from emotional pain is entirely up to you?

Now, if my statement offended you, give yourself a chance to reconsider. Our emotional freedom depends on our choices.  Yes, you read that right.  Our emotional freedom depends on our choices.

Choice is a function of the will. God created each of us with a free will. While we may not be able to control what happens to us, we can always control how we respond to what happens to us.  And therein lies the potential for emotional freedom.

What does it mean to be emotionally free? It means to be free of the turmoil, the pain, the anguish, the conflicts, the fear, and the struggles of a troubled soul.  To be emotionally free means to experience peace, joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, hope, and the expectation of good things.

But how do we get to the point of emotional freedom? We get there by first recognizing that we cannot heal ourselves.  We need a Healer.  The good news is that we have a Healer, and His Name is Jesus Christ.

After we recognize that Jesus Christ alone is our Healer, we need to embrace Him and surrender to His will for our lives.  His will for us is that we be totally healed in spirit, soul, and body.  He wants you totally well. But not only does He want you totally well; He has also provided all that you need to be well in His Holy Word, the Bible.

The Bible gives clear instructions on how to be free of emotional baggage. It gives clear direction on how to be healed. The more you study the Bible and apply it to your life, the freer you will be.  In fact, you will be free to the degree that you believe and act on the Word of God.

So ask yourself this question: How free do I really want to be? Then when you've asked yourself that question, ask yourself this one: Am I willing to allow Jesus Christ into my life, to follow Him, and to obey Him?  If you answered yes, then you are on your way to total freedom.