This is tough teaching.......
By David Jeremiah-
An experiment was conducted in which a group of scientists observed some rats in a tank of water to see how long they would survive before drowning. The average time was 17 minutes. They repeated the experiment, this time rescuing the rats just before drowning. When the "rescued" rats were submerged in the water again, the average survival time increased to 36 hours! The scientists explained that the second time around, the rats had hope and believed they could survive because they had been saved before.
Unlike the scientists, God does not plunge us into "survival" situations, for "He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men" (Lamentations 3:33). But He does allow us to go through trials so that we may grow as Christians. During these difficult times, remember the goodness, faithfulness, and compassion of the Lord; they are our source of hope when the waters of life threaten to overtake us. No matter how hopeless we feel, this truth remains: God cares for us at all times and in every season of life.
"God, when I'm in pain, I forget that You care about me. I forget that You have helped me through my trials. I forget that You love me. I forget that I am important to You. Show me Your presence—let me feel Your enveloping love." - - - Timothy Dailey
