If it weren't for a nasty childhood, we might never have heard an Oklahoman cowpoke sing about a bright, golden haze on the meadow, or Sister Maria be encouraged to climb every mountain.
According to Laurie Winer's Oscar Hammerstein II and the Invention of the Musical, "Richard Rodgers grew up in a house of constant turmoil. His quick-tempered father hated his in-laws, who lived with the family. 'People literally didn't speak to each other in that sad house,' wrote Rodgers' daughter Mary, 'except when they were screaming.' Her father recalled, 'And I turned to this, this kind of melodic construction, the way you turn to food'."
It's nothing new for something terrible to lead to something wonderful.
Jesus and Paul both recognized that suffering and loss forge a deeper and more profound faith in God.
Jesus taught his disciples that embracing suffering for the sake of righteousness not only mirrors his own sacrificial journey but also serves as a means of drawing closer to the divine. Luke 9:23 and 24 records...Then [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." Not that he literally means you have to lose your physical life in order to be a Jesus-follower. The idea is embracing the concept that your life no longer belongs to you, but is subject to the rule of Christ.
Paul, in his letters, emphasized that through trials and tribulations, believers can cultivate virtues such as patience, perseverance, and humility...all of which foster a stronger reliance on God's grace.
Romans 5:3-5: "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
By enduring suffering with faith and trust, individuals can experience the life-changing work of God, leading to profound spiritual growth and an unwavering connection to our heavenly father.
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Truth is...If your current situation is less-than-ideal, if you are struggling in any way, it might help your feelings about it if you start looking for what strength or virtue Yahweh is cultivating within you by allowing it to happen.
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