Journal entry by Duane Holloway —
This post is dedicated to anyone who is currently experiencing significant suffering, and to provide you with a sampling of resources that have helped me – and Kathy through the years. Here’s the link below (you may need to right click and “copy link address” and paste into your web browser).
As Kathy and I walked through life together, being challenged by her multiple sclerosis and progressive paralysis, we became students of suffering, trials, affliction – there are many synonyms for what we all face at some point in our lives on this planet.
As Christ followers, we had to take the approach of “ask, seek, knock”, as Jesus taught. We asked questions such as: Why does God allow suffering? Does suffering have meaning? Is this a test of our faith? How does God use suffering? Is He really here, invisibly walking through this with us, even when He feels absent? Is my faith in a true and living God, or is this a charade? One overarching truth we learned: we may have some answers, but not all, so we just trust God, that all things work together for our good, and His glory. In retrospect, the main thing Kathy taught me is how to trust God and suffer well.
And now I ask the question, what is my purpose in life without my wonderful wife? Actually, that has been pretty clear – to serve and lead others – family and friends; and to know Christ and make Him known.
When people ask me how I am doing now, I usually lead with “I’ve never been closer to God”. And I know Kathy (Kathy 2.0) has never been closer to God, in a real sense! In that regard, I love this verse, Colossians 3:1, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth". So I have continued my quest to understand God’s perspective on death, grief, comfort, joy, hope, peace, resurrection, heaven, hell, the second coming of Christ, the New Earth, and more. Seeking Truth for Life.
Why do I keep writing these posts on Caring Bridge? Well, first, I seem to be a writer and I can’t not write. But I have realized there are four reasons I continue to write these posts / essays:
1. To honor Kathy
2. To glorify God
3. To help myself
4. To help others
Which brings me back to the main reason for this post. This Link, “TRUTH FOR LIFE”, will take you to a website sponsored by The Bible-Teaching Ministry of Alistair Begg. There you will find a “cascade” of 3 writings.
1. Rejoicing in Trouble – a devotional by Charles Spurgeon
At the bottom of that writing you can click on:
2. 12 Bible Verses about Suffering
At the bottom of that writing you can click on:
3. Five Reasons Why We Suffer
I realize this might be information overload for many readers, but I believe for anyone who is in the midst of suffering, it will be worth the read and provide some fresh perspectives.
Finally, thank you again for your love, care, thoughts and prayers for Kathy and me - past and present. You know who you are!
A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Kathy's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?
