It Is Well

A friend announced on Facebook that it had been 16 years from when they had started having children and after many complications, were celebrating on that day, the birth of their adopted 8 year old son.

I commented on her status with "Think of the first 8 years as expanding your heart to be able to store all the love you now have for your boys."

Do I really believe this?

Eight years is a long time to struggle with trying to have kids.  My wife and I struggled for a few years but not 8 years.  It was a long road for our journey and we ended up adopting as well.  Does the struggle truly make the end better?

As a parent, I have always believed that while I love my children and I never want them to need for anything, I would not spoil them by providing all their 'wants'. My desire has been for them to learn to appreciate what they have and not take it for granted.  For my sons, this has meant that they have gone to school without the latest hip clothes, cell phones and other technology wonders.  Truly first world issues but in their minds, these were real struggles for them.

Is that what struggles do? Does the experience of the struggle teach us to appreciate what we have or in some cases, what we will have?

I don't have to look far to find examples of people in their own struggles right now.

One person who I met through this blog, is spending great lengths of time away from his wife and they are struggling with that time apart.  I used to travel a lot for work and while I loved the work I was doing, but hated being away from my family.  When I got home, I wanted to be with my family. The separation strengthened the attraction. (Updated note: I am now traveling a lot for work again!)

I have a good friend whose wife left him a number of years ago.  Both were Christians, but Christ wasn't center in their lives. It was extremely tough those first few months after her departure. But over the last 5 years, I've seen an amazing transformation in him during his struggle.  He has become one of the most 'at peace' people I have ever met.  His tone and conversation is always calm and encouraging.  He is now encouraging other men going through the same experience.  And all the while, he remains faithful to his estranged wife and prays for her.  He is in his struggle and he is finding joy.  How is that possible?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV)

The famous pastor and author of "The Purpose Driven Life", Rick Warren, recently lost his son to mental disease.  His son took his own life.  I can't even imagine how to respond to that struggle but to share in his grief.

I am reading "The Purpose Driven Life" again.  Day 25 "Transformed by Trouble" hit me like....  anything I write here will be a bad cliché.  The chapter screams to each of us who are about to struggle, who are struggling or who have struggled - each and every one of us.

And especially Rick Warren and his family right now.

"You will never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got."

"Whenever we try to avoid or escape the difficulties in life, we short-circuit the process, delay our growth, and actually end up with a worse kind of pain - the worthless type that accompanies denial and avoidance."

I have shared at length and probably with too much transparency, the struggles I've had. I'm not looking for solace. I'm not looking for pity. My desire is that you won't hit the same walls I've hit as I've tried to handle the situation myself and 'short-circuit the process' by trying to control my destiny.

Releasing the struggle over to God has not freed me from the experience of the struggle but it has freed me from the bondage of that struggle.

Are you learning from your struggle experience or are you succumbing to the bondage?

Shortly after I became a Christian, I was introduced to a song simply called 'It Is Well'.  It is the story of Horatio Spafford.  In 1873, he planned to travel to Europe with his family from the US for a family vacation. Some business delayed his departure and his family left ahead of him.  The ship they were on sank, taking with it, Horatio's four daughters.

Let his words to the song that he wrote in response to his struggle comfort you and if you are in a struggle, I pray that it releases you from your bondage today.

So to answer my first question: Yes, I do believe that struggles do prepare us for what is coming - if we only allow it to and don't get caught in bondage.  Are you allowing it to prepare you?

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Thank you for taking the time to read one of the many Wandering Thoughts that God has been putting on my heart. If this has touched you in anyway, I would love to hear from you. You can leave a comment below and share your own personal revelations; or send me a personal message on Google+, Facebook or by emailing me.

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The Host of the Party (Guest Post)

One of the best days to be at church is the day adult baptisms take place.  I will often reschedule my calendar or even go to another church to attend a baptism to be there for that day.  

Why?  

Because there is an enthusiasm that exudes from the person being baptized that I am inspired by.  

Because each story is another example of  how unique and intimate our relationship with Jesus can be.

Because it is one of the happiest days in the life of a believer and I'm honored to be there.

On Easter Sunday this year, our church celebrated the resurrection of Jesus with a few baptisms.  What better way to celebrate Easter?!

Jason was one of the people baptized.  His enthusiasm over the past year has been contagious throughout our whole church.  I've been lucky enough to watch his growth as we play on the worship team together.  

And the story of his joining the worship team is a story of sacrifice in itself.  He hadn't played drums since high school.  Like most families with young children, extra cash isn't something he is burdened with.  He sold his motorcycle so that he could buy some drums to be able to practice.  

Jason wants everyone to experience what he has come to experience.  He wants everyone to come and know His Savior.  The following is a small portion of his testimony.     

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The Host of the Party by Jason Pierosara

Why do I want to be baptized?

Out of respect. Out of love for The Lord. Out of recognition of all the wonderful things that Jesus has given me and done for me in my life, while I was, and continue to be a sinner - while I blatantly disregarded and at times turned my back on Him. For the new life I have been given. For the redemption bestowed upon me. For the trust He has put and continues to put in me. For the faith He has in me to do right by Him. For the hope and excitement I have. For my friendship with Him.

The past year has been the most exciting and wonderful year of my entire life. Up to that point, it is difficult to explain, but I had always felt like I was waiting for my life to begin. My complete life - my whole life - started a little more than a year ago. Up to that point I had everything. I had been blessed to have loving parents who were and still are happily married, a happy home and childhood, my health, a good education, an incredible wife, and two amazing, healthy children. I had always believed in God and was baptized as a baby in the Roman Catholic Church. But up to that point I never had a relationship with Jesus.

When I first started talking to my pastor about my faith early last summer, I explained to him how I thought about my relationship with Jesus. I felt like a bit of an outsider. It was like there was this party, and everyone was inside, mingling, talking, laughing and having fun. Jesus was at the party. He was in the house, in the back corner. I was at the front door looking in. I wanted to go in, and I wanted to go up to Jesus and introduce myself and talk to Him - to get to know Him. But of course, I couldn't do that! I wasn't worthy of that. It was Jesus - and I thought you can't just walk up to Jesus - it's Jesus!! You needed to prepare. You needed to know about Him. You needed to atone yourself. You needed to be a good person. You needed to be someone who did good things. You needed to be worthy.

And I certainly wasn't.

Slowly, and thankfully, I began to feel more comfortable at the door. And it was my sister and my brother-in-law, and it was my pastor and his wife, the first people that really got me on track with my faith, who were at the entrance of the house, and they were so warm and made me feel like I was welcome. I knew I was at the right place. I was invited. I was supposed to be there. So I took my first steps into the house. And soon, I met my homechurch family. Then my church worship team. And all of you. Each of you was at the party, and still are.

All the while, I felt Jesus watching me from that back corner and smiling, as I began to enter deeper and deeper into the house, surrounding myself with all of you. And finally, I've shyly and sheepishly made my way to that back corner, where Jesus had been watching me the whole time. And today, I stand in front of Him. And I don't need to introduce myself to Him. He knows me. He always has. And it's His house that the party is in. And He is the one that threw the party. And I was never intended to be just a guest at this party. He threw the party for me.

Of course I realize now that you don’t have to do anything to prepare to talk or walk with Jesus. I was the only one holding back my relationship with Him. But it’s not an easy lesson to learn that I didn't need to feel guilt or shame for the things I've done in the past. No matter what my sins were, or what they will be. He loves me. He was protecting and loving me the whole time. And I know today He’s in heaven today rejoicing over me.

And it’s an indescribable feeling.

Jason Pierosara

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Would you like to share your testimony?  I would love to hear from you. You can leave a comment below or send me a personal message on Google+, Facebook or by email.

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Have a wonderful day.