http://jennawoestman.com/2009/11/05/arise-and-be-comforted/ a memoir in eleventy billion parts Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:40:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://jennawoestman.com/2009/11/05/arise-and-be-comforted/#comment-3093 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:20:08 +0000 http://jennawoestman.com/?p=5055#comment-3093 Praise God!

]]> http://jennawoestman.com/2009/11/05/arise-and-be-comforted/#comment-3092 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:03:31 +0000 http://jennawoestman.com/?p=5055#comment-3092 Jenna – oh, so true. The Psalms are one of my FAVORITE books of the Bible, because the pain and joy and questions are so relateable. And yes…it’s silly to pretend all is well…when you know better that things are tough and just may get tougher. I’m with you on that – when I think of so many of my friends and family who have struggled with the hard things in life – the last thing they (or I) would want to hear is “chin up!” It’s the “It hurts, for real…pain is ok…and questions are normal” that helps us feel so not-alone. One thing I do love about the Psalms is that there is a theme of struggle and sadness and questioning, but always – at the end, where David (or whoever wrote that particular Psalm) will begin focusing on God again – and there is unexplainable joy that can be experienced…even through trial. I think that joy is ONLY something God can give…because there is NO HUMAN way possible to “feel” joy during trial…it’s ALL God and He’s ALL comfort…and He is so gracious to let us go through that process of pain that leads to joy – instead of saying “Buck up…and deal with it.” He knows our frame…that is it but dust. Praying for you, Jenna and thankful that you’re sharing your journey with us. Thanks for this post, too…very poingnant thoughts and good reminders we all could use!

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