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Treasures in the Dark

09.08.2024

39M

Katherine Wolf shares her inspiring story of suffering, perseverance, and hope, encouraging us to shift our mindset from the “what ifs” to “what is.” She teaches that if we’re looking for an escape hatch from the “what if” loop, we must have hope in God.

Key Takeaway

Sometimes, certain treasures are only available in the darkness. Don't miss the treasure.

We can reframe the idea of having overwhelming things to be abundance and answered prayers.

What if God spared us from a perfect life, and if this life of suffering was precisely what God wanted us to live?

We tend to confuse a "charmed" life with a "blessed" life, yearning for a life free of struggle, pain, or loss. But what if our struggles propel us to God's purpose for our lives and help save lives along the way?

The bubblewrap of affluence and access can keep us numb to the world, but when faced with difficulty, we learn to have empathy and compassion for those around us and hope in our Savior instead of our circumstances.

The phrase "poor in spirit" in Matthew 5:4 refers to those for whom the world was not made—believers in Christ who know that their inheritance is in heaven. We understand that this is all a part of something bigger.

We must move from having a "what-if" loop to settling into "what is." We must have eyes to see what is right before us and hope in Jesus above all else.

If it's true for me, could it be true for you, too?

Suffering changes us. We're no longer the person we were before.

New life starts in the dark. Jesus was given new life after being in the tomb, in the same way, that seeds grow from the darkness of the soil.

1. My suffering can feel a little more bearable when I love who I've become because of it.

2. God can use my deepest wounds to heal the world.

3. I can see my suffering as a curse on the people I love or an inheritance of breathtaking value.

4. Hope is not a fixed point I will reach. Hope is the living force that propels me forward.

Do not miss the treasure.

Quote

"Jesus, in our suffering, makes a new creation."

Katherine Wolf

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Scripture References

  • Isaiah 45:3
  • Romans 12:2
  • Isaiah 43:19
  • James 1:4
Katherine Wolf Katherine is a communicator and advocate. She leverages her redemptive story to encourage those with broken bodies, brains, and hearts. Engaging both faith-based and secular communities, she seeks to bridge the gap between those disabled on the outside and those disabled on the inside with the hope that Jesus brings healing to the deepest pains we all carry. She resides in Atlanta, GA, with her husband, Jay, and two sons, James and John. To connect, visit hopeheals.com or @hopeheals.