When a writer is preparing a proposal, or pitching an idea to an editor or agent, a key question often comes up: what is the take-away value? How will the reader’s life be enhanced from the time investment of reading the book?
I’ve been pondering “take-away” from another angle. For me, recent years have been a time of “take-aways” in a literal sense. Many elements of my life that I treasured have been taken away.
Can we find the take-away value in life’s struggles?
I know that when God allows these painful experiences, He also provides “take-away” value. When we have suffered, we learn how to comfort others. When we are confronted with extreme weakness, we learn more about relying on Him instead of ourselves. When our dreams turn to dust, and the world goes spinning forward without us, we learn that God never forsakes us, and our love for Him finds new depths.
If you are feeling like precious parts of your life have been taken away – health, relationship, career – you aren’t alone.
We can hang on to God’s promise. “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.” – Psalm 138:8
Let’s pray together: Lord, we may not see the value to take away from our current struggles, but we trust that You are not letting our pain go to waste. Strengthen our faith while we wait to see Your purposes fulfilled in our lives. Don’t abandon the work of Your hands. Amen.
Thanks for stopping by. Have you found “take-away” value in recent life challenges? Post a comment! I’d love to hear your story.
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Hi Sharon, Another great post (about Take Aways). I’d like to share a story with you (from my soon-to-be published book, Right to the Soul). It was my biggest take-away (financially and in the lesson learned). The story is called, “The Million Dollar Bedspread.” Hope you enjoy. (& I hope the spacing comes through okay when I paste it here).
After the financial nightmare of my life…having lost almost my entire life’s earnings due to an embezzling business partner…I sent myself to counseling. During the counseling, I mentioned that the bedspread we used in our business venture (in the staging portion of the condo-conversion) now adorned my queen-sized guest bed. “I cringe every time I look at it,” I said, moaning. “Such awful memories!” The counselor and I concluded it would be best discarded and she gave me the assignment of picking out a new one before next week’s appointment.
But the next week surprised me! God’s Spirit kept prompting my heart, “Let Go! Let God!” He didn’t mean let go of the bedspread by tossing it out, He meant let go of the anger and disdain I felt every time I looked at it. God’s Spirit assured me I did not have to associate negative memories with that bedspread. It would be better to learn to forgive and let go of the bitterness I harbored.
At first this seemed like an inconceivable challenge – learning to disassociate negative memories seemed beyond my abilities and forgiving seemed even more impossible. But I tried.
Once I humbled myself and truly comprehended that people’s sins (including my own) are against God, and God is willing to forgive everyone, I forgave the man who harmed me.
Inspired by God’s promptings, I kept my bedspread and nicknamed it the million dollar bedspread (yes, I was now in the hole nearly a million dollars). I learned to make the most of my future…with God leading the way! Here I am today, writing this book – a project that has come together with all sorts of miracles and provisions from God. The way I see it, I am meant to be here, writing. It is his will. I love it and I am constantly amazed at how energized I am to finish this project! In Him, I place my trust.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
John 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
-THE END-
Sharon,
Thank you for writing this. It was very helpful to me!
What a great story! Thanks so much for sharing. And that last verse you shared is so packed with WOW! I was just reading Genesis and love how Joseph glimpsed God’s loving purposes in the midst of all the injustice he faced…even saw the good in providing for and blessing his brothers who had hurt him so much. And God preserved the line from which Christ would come. Talk about a great take-away!
Blessings on your book!!!
Thanks for commenting, STacey! So glad it spoke to you. Blessings!
Thank you for this wonderful testimony, Sharon!
I’ve had a similar experience. In 2001, I met up with an unfriendly mosquito and contracted encephalitis (a brain infection). The residual brain damage was severe enough that I had to give up my Ob/Gyn medical practice. Many people — patients, church members, and even pastors — saw this as a terrible outcome. But when the elders anointed me (James 5:14), the Lord revealed to me that, although I would not be healed instantaneously, He would be with me through the healing process to teach me some things and to lead me in a new direction. And, despite what others were saying, that gave me peace about the situation.
Honestly, there were very few things I could do — sitting up was a challenge and even reading was a skill I had to relearn. Nevertheless, I found that I could write and, for some “bizarre” reason, I could read/comprehend information about writing even though I could comprehend little other written information. (How’s that for a sign post?) So I pursued an old and long-forgotten interest in writing, taking online classes from my sickbed. Initially I thought this would be temporary, just something to do while I recuperated. But by the time it became clear that I would be unable to return to medicine, I’d had some articles accepted for publication. I’ve now had three allegorical novels published and am enjoying this second career. People ask if I miss practicing medicine, and I do. But I’m also having a lot of fun writing, which I never would have had the chance to do otherwise.
It fascinates and awes me to see how God fulfills His promises in our lives. He’s so creative! As humans, we’re not able to look ahead to see how things might work out. But God can. And He assures us that, in His hands, even the worst imaginable situation can bring about good for us. (Jer. 29:11, Rom. 8:28)
Thanks for sharing your story, Della. Yes, God is so much more creative than we are, and can shape good out of things that are incomprehensible to us. Blessings!