Yesterday I read about Paul's thorns and revelations. Seems that of late many of the people we love are hurting from physical pain, loss of a loved one, or something else. These are people that love the Lord with all their hearts. I often wonder why does this stuff happen to them and not me? Or why does bad stuff happen, in general, to good people? So, this devotional was specifically moving to me in that I know they all see the Lord more clearly and intimately having gone through what they are going through. Henrichsen states, "Suffering often accompanies intimacy with God."
He also talks about how with that intimacy sometimes comes extraordinary revelations but that first began with extraordinary suffering. I don't believe, by any means, that he's saying this is a direct science or that it you will always have extreme intimacy with God during suffering. God is not a god that can be put in a box. He moves in unique and different ways. But we do know that He is the same yesterday, today and forever! Hebrews13:8
So, I leave you with this thought...
"If you covet those encounters with God
where He reveals Himself in special ways,
are you willing to bear the cross
that often accompanies them?"
