tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post2042934362854396308..comments2024-03-28T02:36:00.269-07:00Comments on The Refiner's Fire Blog: A note for those who have endured a lifetime of sufferingCarmenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14998146626031186940noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-49246831176281990942015-09-26T14:54:01.567-07:002015-09-26T14:54:01.567-07:00Thank you for being brave enough to share your sto...Thank you for being brave enough to share your story with us! I'm sure YHWH is using you as a "light" for others because you found your way to Him, IN SPITE of those who hurt you - those who were clearly being used by satan! I'm glad you realize that your past is a blessing, because it made you who you are today - a child of God!<br /><br />I can't really say whether or not YHWH still allows the enemy free access to His people, but I do believe there are times He allows us to come to some cross roads where we are forced to make some hard choices - so that WE can prove to ourselves that we are still His. Do you know what I'm saying? <br /><br />I mean, for instance, say you are a married man or woman and you meet someone else, and you start thinking of ways to sneak out of the house so you can pursue that relationship. The attraction is so strong that you come to the conclusion that "YHWH surely understands. He knows how unhappy I am in my marriage, and He won't mind." <br /><br />Well, the thing is, once we know Scripture, we KNOW that He hates divorce and that adultery used to be an offense that someone would get stoned for...That didn't change just because Y'shua died! Sin is still sin! So, we MUST at that point make a decision at that "cross road": Do I go against Torah and sin, just because I'm unhappy in my marriage and I really, really want to be with that other person? Or do I choose YHWH and HIS will, and ask Him to keep me from giving in to my flesh, and give me pointers on how I can do my part to help my marriage heal?<br /><br />He does give us the choice to do things HIS way, or not. There is no gray area. It sounds to me like you have figured this out - Halleluyah! Carmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14998146626031186940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-26952286533379494752015-09-26T14:17:50.326-07:002015-09-26T14:17:50.326-07:00Thank you Shali for your compassionate and encoura...Thank you Shali for your compassionate and encouraging reply. <br />I endured similar experiences to yours in my childhood and then suffered immensely all throughout my teens and early adulthood with the consequences of it, plus some other horrendous and very unfortunate events, like an endless avalanche of torment throughout my early life. It destroyed my health, mentally and physically, and even up to today I am still dealing with the aftermath. That said, YHWH has been very graceful to me and I have experienced a lot of healing and especially emotional and spiritual growth since first learning of Him. And I do count my history all in all as a blessing too, or perhaps I should rather say that YHWH has turned what seemed like a hopeless disaster, into something very good. I wouldn't be the same person I am today without my experiences, and I am sure everything has a reason, far beyond my understanding at the moment.<br /><br />I can perfectly understand what you say about other people's choices having an impact on us and so not all of our suffering is a direct consequence of our own sins.<br /><br />And the story of Job showing us how it might not have anything to do with us or other people, but the enemy who has been given the permission to cause us pain, loss and suffering. I am not too sure whether this was a one off incident, or does YHWH still allow the enemy to do such things to us?<br /><br />Anyhow, I am often comforted by the book of Job, I have had countless of 'friends of Job' in my life, and knowing the book of Job, I now can disregard their useless 'wisdom' and 'help'. And most of all, Job reminds me to always be grateful and praise YHWH, even in the most intense pain and suffering. I don't always know the reasons behind things, but I trust that YHWH knows, is full of mercy, compassion and love, and He is worthy of all my praise and adoration no matter what my earthly circumstances are. <br /><br />I will have a look at the story you linked to, thank you! <br /><br />I really enjoy your website and this blog, it has been a huge blessing to me. May YHWH greatly bless you!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-6250280415407839022015-09-26T12:45:00.645-07:002015-09-26T12:45:00.645-07:00Thank you for your heartfelt questions and comment...Thank you for your heartfelt questions and comments. We are happy to see that you wrote this: “If it is YHWH's will, I would really like to become well physically and mentally, that would also allow me to focus on His things, rather than myself and my problems. But if I am to suffer like this to the end of my life, so shall it be and I still praise YHWH and serve Him in any way I can, even in this condition.” <br /><br />THAT is exactly what He is looking for! He desires people who are so completely “whole-hearted” toward Him, they are willing to deal with anything life throws at them! Everything is and can be a true learning experience that draws us ever closer to Him. Just take a look at what His own Son had to endure!<br /><br />Yes, of course, you’ll begin to realize some blessings once you give your whole being to Him and begin to obey His Torah to the best of your ability. The trick is not to expect immediate change. It took you a lifetime of messes to get you to the point where you are finally ready to STOP and repent and to WANT to turn your life around. Therefore, there cannot be any changes overnight. (For instance, if you’ve been a heavy smoker and/or an alcoholic all your life, and you are broke, unemployed or ill because of those or some other addictions, chances are, you won’t suddenly become healthy and wealthy. It will take work on your part to get yourself back onto the road of recovery. Could YHWH suddenly “make you healthy” again? Certainly! But He usually allows us to reap the rewards of the seeds we’ve sown so that we will remember what got us there, in the first place ….<br /><br />While I don’t know the story of your life and all the suffering you’ve endured, I can tell you that while we mostly do bring “bad things” upon ourselves, there are also things that are NOT of our own doing, but they happened because of someone else’s choices in life, which just happened to impact us. You see, YHWH gives us all the choice to belong to Him – or not. Most do NOT belong to Him, and often THEIR choices will impact us – even to the point of completely ruining our life. For instance, in my case, I was a victim of years of childhood sexual abuse. My adoptive father was a pedophile, and I used to beg God to please stop him…but that never happened. Somehow, down deep, I knew God was allowing this guy to do what he did because ultimately. I didn’t realize WHY, until many years later, when I realized my suffering at the hands of my adoptive father served to help me find my way to YHWH and bring me into a really close relationship with HIM, a relationship I may never have had, had it not been for all my suffering! Read the story of Job and you’ll see what I mean. Also, please read this little story that should help you to feel better about who you are in Him as you continue to be refine in the fire: http://therefinersfire.org/refiners_fire.htm<br /><br />Thanks for writing! May YHWH continue to heal and grow and bless you!<br />Carmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14998146626031186940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-30284309689653225582015-09-26T01:08:02.933-07:002015-09-26T01:08:02.933-07:00When I think of my great difficulties in this life...When I think of my great difficulties in this life and the immense suffering I have had to go through and that I still keep experiencing, I wonder whether it is the consequence of my sins and disobedience to the Torah of YHWH, or the vices of the enemy to trap me and keep me from pursuing my faith to YHWH. Or maybe both? I have been most of my life and still am physically and mentally very weary and ill. I have disobeyed the commandments of the Torah most of my life, only now I am slowly learning to obey. Will the blessings of the Torah then begin to come true in my life as I put away sin and stop disobeying, or will I still keep suffering to the end of my life, because the whole natural world is under sin and nobody escapes the consequences of it and the vices of the enemy that rages around us?<br /><br />If it is YHWH's will, I would really like to become well physically and mentally, that would also allow me to focus on His things, rather than myself and my problems. But if I am to suffer like this to the end of my life, so shall it be and I still praise YHWH and serve Him in any way I can, even in this condition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-86537932318886781852015-09-03T15:55:40.842-07:002015-09-03T15:55:40.842-07:00Rav Shaul (Paul) gave the nod to have Stephen ston...Rav Shaul (Paul) gave the nod to have Stephen stoned, I wonder if Paul suffered depression since that time. I wonder if that was his thorn in the flesh? I made a decision years ago that at times, takes me to a very depressed state-of-mind. The enemy may like to see me go there but the good news is that I have learned that the pain of remembering that bad decision is a good teacher. For this, I praise YHWH! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-583877674148762542015-08-31T20:14:50.604-07:002015-08-31T20:14:50.604-07:00Could be!Could be!Carmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14998146626031186940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-65527286033155490622015-08-31T17:49:38.633-07:002015-08-31T17:49:38.633-07:00I like the AENT translation here of Phil 4:12 &quo...I like the AENT translation here of Phil 4:12 "I know how to be depressed, and I also know how to abound in everything and in all things am I exercised both in prosperity and in famine, in abundance and in poverty." Anonymous mentioned Lewis. I remember Bible translator and author, J.B. Philips, 'Your God is too Small', facing depression and maybe Rav Shaul was referring to his own physical pain that contributed to his confronting depression? Just a thought.PDLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01710155068729220723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5193745359560427451.post-54243156548966517352015-08-28T19:13:37.878-07:002015-08-28T19:13:37.878-07:00... "the adversary" ALWAYS picks on יהוה...... "the adversary" ALWAYS picks on יהוה’s people in hopes of keeping them so miserable that they will remain focused on their misery instead of on God." <br /><br />C.S.Lewis spoke on this theme in his book 'The Problem of Pain'. After years of suffering, he too discovered the truth and lived the rest of his life with hope and a sense of purpose - what too many are sadly missing in their lives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com