Brief summary
Sister Tamara W. Runia’s talk is a deeply personal and hopeful message about why God allows difficult experiences and how He uses them to shape us into people who can become more like Him. She draws particularly on the death of her son, Ryan, and on the image of a sculptor shaping clay.
Key quotes
‘Consider this: Christ’s work in your life and His love for you are bigger than your present story. And He can fix what feels badly broken.’ (Paragraph 30)
When suffering comes, instead of turning away from God, how can we turn towards Him and allow Him to heal us?
‘We all have a choice right now. Let’s choose Christ, who can heal the wounds of this world while carving out room for joy!’ (Paragraph 32)
How can wounds lead to joy?
’…the gospel felt like a big umbrella I could hold over my head to keep the rain from falling on me. But I’ve learned from experience that we’re all going to get rained on. And sometimes we’re going to get pelted!
The gospel isn’t the umbrella; it’s the solid rock we’re standing on during the storm—that “sure foundation … whereon if men build they cannot fall.”’ (Paragraphs 11-12).
Do we sometimes expect the gospel to protect us from difficulties rather than help us through them?
‘God’s love has moved me from questions that begin with “why” to reflections that begin, “I know that God loves me, so what is supposed to be happening here?”’ (Paragraph 14).
Have you had difficult experiences in your life that have taught you things you couldn’t have learned any other way?
‘Not understanding is not the same as not believing.’ (Paragraph 20)
How can we believe that God loves us even when we don’t understand what He is allowing to happen?
‘Our suffering means something. It’s not a detour from the path; it gives purpose to our path.’ (Paragraph 23)
In what ways can suffering give purpose to our path?
‘My friends, there is sculpting taking place within each of our souls.’ (Paragraph 43).
Are we willing to let the Saviour work in ways that may initially feel uncomfortable?
‘He’ll lovingly chasten us to get our attention, but He waits for an invitation before He can really go to work.’ (Paragraph 44)
How do we invite Him to go to work on us?
Invitations
- Choose to trust God
- Instead of continually asking: “Why is this happening to me?” try asking: “I know God loves me, so what might He be doing in me through this?”
- Invite the Saviour to sculpt your soul
- Choose Christ when life hurts
- Look for what God is making of you.
Application
God is not merely trying to get us safely through life; He is trying to help us become something.
You can watch Sister Runia’s talk here.
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