Cheryl Yale Bruedigam Author

When it comes to biblical teachings, one topic that I have just not been able to fully grasp has been that of our suffering, or suffering for Christ, our need to suffer, and so on, and how Paul was able to accept it and find the joy. And of course Christ himself taught of the suffering to come for believers. It has been a hard pill to understand and swallow, until now. Realization sitting in the un-air conditioned car in the summer heat: If the situation I am in is God’s will for my life, than my suffering in the situation is for Him . With that understanding, it gives the suffering value, purpose, reason and continued commitment not only to be able to endure, but willing to endure, and to endure joyfully. This realization was life-changing, mind-altering. Suddenly so much that has seemed so pointless now makes understandable sense.          Before the big realization yesterday, I had made a prayer saying that I understand that if and when God is ready to grant

Do you have an affliction? Are you searching for answers? Many of us suffer from afflictions, yet how many actually find the true answer or the hidden gift within? Sometimes I feel like I have been benched in the game of life seriously, for like a decade at least due to my health, and I think I am starting to want back in the game. There were thing I took for granted, didn’t appreciate, did wrongly. I have had to learn a lot of lessons. I have baby plants now that I am tending. I have heard that is a sign of healing (even if it was in a Sandra Bullock movie). Today I found an article on a man’s fatigue and chronic anemia, and started reading of how he began to see it as a gift, and I had just written down that very verse in my planner, 2 Cor 12:7-10, where Paul tells us to stop focusing on the handicap and begin appreciating the gift (MSG). The article ended abruptly saying if you want to read it, you have to subscribe to the magazine. That was daft but I get the mes