Bearing Reality

This powerful message explores the unexpected spiritual value of our most uncomfortable moments, particularly those sleepless nights when we're left alone with ourselves and our God. Drawing from 1 Peter, we see God transforms our suffering into grace. God doesn't reward us for suffering, but He does make our suffering into something gracious to us. The message confronts our modern tendency to live distracted lives, constantly channel-surfing through our souls to avoid reality. We fill every moment with noise and activity because, as T.S. Eliot observed, humankind cannot bear very much reality. Yet those 3 a.m. moments when we can't sleep, when the dog needs out, when there's nothing between us and our thoughts, these become sacred opportunities. God uses our suffering, silence, and solitude to put us in touch with ourselves and with Him, clearing away everything that isn't important and leading us back to Jesus, the shepherd and guardian of our souls who promises abundant life.