I tried to write a comment earlier, and then our first reading today was from Wisdom Ch 9 (a book which is new to me, that whole Catholic/Protestant Bible thing) and seemed to speak to this all better than I can (also had a very LOTR-esque flavor):
“Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.”
Cough syrup: People always made fun of me for how I gagged at the stuff. Glad to know I’m not the only one who found it revolting haha.
On a more serious note: I’ve been learning this too, that there’s not a lesson hidden amongst every trial. And like you, I think the reason I always searched for one is because it felt like the burden was lighter if I had something or someone to blame.
But what God is offering us in every bit of suffering is himself, and that is what I want to cling to.
I tried to write a comment earlier, and then our first reading today was from Wisdom Ch 9 (a book which is new to me, that whole Catholic/Protestant Bible thing) and seemed to speak to this all better than I can (also had a very LOTR-esque flavor):
“Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.”
Cough syrup: People always made fun of me for how I gagged at the stuff. Glad to know I’m not the only one who found it revolting haha.
On a more serious note: I’ve been learning this too, that there’s not a lesson hidden amongst every trial. And like you, I think the reason I always searched for one is because it felt like the burden was lighter if I had something or someone to blame.
But what God is offering us in every bit of suffering is himself, and that is what I want to cling to.
"Does everything have to be a lesson?"
oh my!