Overcoming Sorrow
Tract #SOR
When Jackie Tetreault lost her husband of 53 years she was overcome with sorrow for a season. She soon saw that there were two roads before her. Recorded below are the wrestlings of her soul as she chose God’s road through sorrow.
Sorrow is one of the things that is lent, not given. A thing that is lent may be taken away. Joy is given, Sorrow is lent. We are not our own we are bought with a price and our sorrow is not our own, it is lent to us for just a little while that we may use it for eternal purposes. Then it will be taken away and everlasting joy will be our Fathers gift to us. The Lord will wipe away all our tears from off our faces. So let us use this lent thing to draw us nearer to the heart of Him who was once a Man of sorrows (He is not that now but He does not forget the feeling of sorrow.) Let us use it to make us more tender with others as He was when on earth and is still, for He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
Let go of displeasure--It depresses the heart--Let it go--Do not hold on to it. Let it slip out of your mind. Fasten your thoughts on something that gives pleasure. Hold still in the Lord--abide in Him--commit your way unto Him and you shall be refreshed in the multitude of peace. By an act of the will, by His grace you can let go of displeasure and be tenderly released and refreshed.
Nothing had changed in her circumstances but she had let go of her pain, given it to God, asked Him for deliverance and in doing so was free to trust God. She was no longer bitter but better. 1Samuel 1:10
I urge you to keep up your courage and stability in the midst of the storm. The only source is the word of God. Is. 43:2-5 He redeems your struggles to help others---You can be a resource. In Him we live and move and have our being.
When you are in heaviness you are always tempted to think about yourself. This is a temptation and most tormenting. To draw ones thoughts to oneself is a long tried and most successful wile of Satan. When I am in heaviness I will think upon God. My God is faithful so feelings or no feelings I will trust and not be afraid. In this lies the way of release.
Discouragement is one of Satan's most useful servants. These thoughts must not take root and grow. If they are allowed Satan has won a victory and a great deal has been done to hinder what God intends to do. Discouragement is from beneath. Encouragement is from above.
If we continue to wallow in our gloom it prolongs our grief work. When I was a child I reasoned as a child now as an adult I need to put away childish things.
Time is a preparation for eternity. We come out of our grief stronger for we have had to use our spiritual muscles to climb the rugged mountain trails.
Grieve, not as those who have no hope. 1 Thes. 4:13
To work through grief is hard work. It is easier to grieve than to climb. It is a long road to understanding the love of God in and through our suffering. To see suffering in its perspective and whole heartedly accept it, it takes a steady fixing of my gaze on the cross.
Suffering is having what you don't want or wanting what you don't have !!!!!!!
We can be more comfortable in our grief then in the new unpredictable world. Its easier to grieve than fight the battle of new decisions every hour. You must re-enter life again. It is a temptation not to.
We are never our old selves again. We either come out stronger or weaker.
Stay in training. Loss continues to come in many forms. God can never be taken away. Rest in the Lord.
Often when we cannot lift a thing we can roll it. Roll thy way upon the Lord. Roll it again.
We cannot make the wind blow but we can adjust the sails in obedience to the laws of the wind and they give us power to go where we will. So it is with spiritual power. When we are willing for God to rule our life our life will reveal Gods power. Do I desire it????
Although my 3 little Christmas trees are in the living room, my sweetheart is not here, but there is a song in my heart because I'm getting ready to move from those little trees to the tree of life beside the river whose leaves mean healing forever. From the ache and pain of my heart down here. I miss you, my darling. and will come to be with you. My flesh is sorrowful but I will guard my heart for it is the well-spring of life.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Is. 4:29
In the context of widowhood God wants me to glorify Him. Its not my idea!!!!!!!
God has caused me to be fruitful in my affliction. My loneliness becomes my offering. (Broken bread and poured out wine)
Faith is not based on feelings, but feelings can affect faith and my feelings were taking over, so each evening I cuddled up with Jesus as soon as the darkness rolled in… with my Bible, pen, paper and books from my mentors, Amy Carmichael and Elizabeth Elliot. I had to rebuild my altar. Not all, but a good portion of my life had been spent on the mountain top but now, I was as low in the valley as I had ever been. I set my face toward God, my comfort, my shelter, my tower of refuge and strength and prayed that my God would ground me in His Word and not in my feelings and when He tried me I would come forth as Gold.
From suffering comes steadfastness which is proof of sound-ness and proof gives rise to hope. Suffering, steadfastness soundness, hope and love.
If we are to be and do for others what God means us to be we must not let the Word of God, worship and adoration slip into second place. Its neglect is responsible for much lack of spiritual depth and power. If we don't give time to what makes depth we stay shallow. Just a little wind can then ruffle our surface---a little hot sun and all the moisture in us evaporates. It should not be so. Let us draw near to Him. The morning never disappoints us by not coming, neither does our loving God.
Each time suffering touches us we face the choice between faith, which accepts and unbelief which refuses to accept. Who is my master?? Did I want to make suffering my master?? Its so easy to stay there as I would not have to do one thing except think about me. Did I want to serve more than one master, suffering and God. Trying does not touch feelings. It is useless to argue with oneself. Feelings elude arguments. Feelings are like the mists that cover the mountains in misty weather. The mists pass the mountains abide. Turn to Father and tell Him you know He loves you. Do this whether you feel like it or not. He is with you whether you feel His presence or not. What scripture has helped you in the past? He has caused me to trust and He is my comfort in my trouble for His Word has quickened me.
Who among us can be counted on for happiness? It is those who never take self into consideration at all !!!!
We learn more through sorrow and troubles than when all is great, great, great. He washed my eyes with tears.
What our God gives is never for ourselves alone but is given to be shared.
Every man and woman comes to his crisis hour---Are you ready to climb ???
If I stand close enough to the cross its shadow will fall on me.
Where am I now? I have learned to be content (inner peace) in every circumstance I have. I continue to trust my Lord that I will always be an overcomer and be faithful unto death. Teach me to number my days that I might apply my heart to wisdom. May I live as one who must give an account of herself, remembering that the day approaches. Yes, God is mightier than self in my life so therefore I can overcome. I am ready to alter my life as I see it in the mirror of your word and any victory is not for myself alone. Many times God sees results when I cannot. Is. 35:4
How true I found this to be: A Christian witness meets its true test in times of suffering. Definitely, do not start with your fear but start with Gods promise. It is not what happens but what we do with what happens!!!!
Do not make a career out of your troubles. "How can God use you if you do?????
We can live Gods way by faith or our way with a limited ability to reason.
Choose God or despair--to despair is a sin. Life proceeds under Gods direction.
Don't become the victim of tender memories or worship at their shrine, but let them whet your expectations for better times ahead--because I live you shall live also. John 14:9
Loneliness becomes an offering, Suffering becomes an offering and Obedience becomes an offering. All of these are one of the highest forms of worship.
There is a beginning, a middle and an end to every crises. March on, Oh my soul, be strong. Judges 5:21
We have a God to whom we can go at any minute, the weakest minute, the darkest minute, at midnight or at mid-day. Be my rock (my strong habitation) to which I can always go.
There is a tremendously uplifting power in joy. Let me rejoice and be glad all of my days (which are left for me on this earth) all of these days and this day.
Every night, however long and difficult, ends in a dawn of gold--Joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Put my feelings on God's altar and then put on the garment of Praise for the spirit of heaviness, lift up your voice to God.
Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him for He shields him all day long and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders. Deut. 33:12
Are you a survivor or an overcomer???
Do the next thing (the familiar thing) The disciples did the familiar thing (they went fishing) John 21. I made a Mexican lasagna for a friend whose children were sick. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and should have taken 20 to 30 minutes but took me hours. I had to have one hand help lift the other hand. It was definitely the primer that started me on the road to abundant life here on earth.
Walk when the way is not clear, that is how He teaches you to trust Him. Faith and Obedience. When the trial is over you'll be deeper and richer for it.
Thank you Lord that each day brings me word of your unfailing love. Show me the way I should go for to you I lift up my soul. I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will for you are my God and I am your servant. In you I take refuge.
You cannot let your heart be troubled without your permission. The set of the soul decides its goal.
With God working for us we are more than conquerors. Use times of pain for His glory.
We are made to love as the stars are made to shine.
The life of faith is lived one day at a time. Real living is not just around the corner. It is for today that we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow.
The way we live ought to manifest the truth we believe.
He is close to the broken hearted. Put your stake in the ground and go on with Jesus. Psalm 34
What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us.
Living in the past is the only prison that will prevent us from soaring into an abundant future.
Many times people refuse to be comforted.
Find your comfort in God and use times of pain for His glory. Comfort others by what you have learned about Gods sufficiency.
You offend God if you stay a victim.
After each chapter of life we have to go on making choices and living with the consequences.
The New Testament is full of stories of how Jesus moved ahead while everyone around Him worried and dilly-dallied.
The will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.
By Jackie Tetreault
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