Suffering Produces

When experiencing a difficult situation, sometimes my mind begins to spin. I rant in my head, allowing pain to bubble up out of my heart into words. Sometimes these internal rants turn into Psalm-like prayers offered to the Lord. One evening this December when feeling particularly overwhelmed, I began writing my rant onto a page. I was scribbling so furiously the words turned into a tiny, twisting, barely legible shape as I poured out my frustrations honestly.When experiencing a difficult situation, sometimes my mind begins to spin. I rant in my head, allowing pain to bubble up out of my heart into words. Sometimes these internal rants turn into Psalm-like prayers offered to the Lord. One evening this December when feeling particularly overwhelmed, I began writing my rant onto a page. I was scribbling so furiously the words turned into a tiny, twisting, barely legible shape as I poured out my frustrations honestly.
The Lord graciously meets me in these chaotic moments, often soothing me with Scripture or a song. This orders the chaos into hope; not hope unmarred by pain, but pain channeled into longing for His return. Romans 8:28 and Romans 5:3-8 (“suffering produces endurance… character… and hope”) are favorites He often brings to mind. I’m amazed the Lord is willing and able to use my rants and painful experiences, transforming me and the world around me into something beautiful for His glory. In this piece, I used the same materials as my moment of pain–scribbled words, brown paper–and turned them into a symbol of new life (butterfly) pinned to my scribbles, representing Christ’s gentle, transformative entry into my moment of chaos.