A Question on Suffering and "offering it up"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Beggar
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Is this “offering up” also the same as “giving it to God” or “letting go”?

I have a great emotional burden that weighs me down daily.

What I read on this thread is the first sense I’ve been able to make of the “offering up” I’ve heard about.

Are they the same?
 
When I think of suffering, I am reminded of this biblical passage:

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

Not exactly letting go, but more accepting it.
 
I think of offering it up as willingly carrying my cross, my burdens, for God. I think of it also as being “yoked” with Him, as Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This passage used to confuse me some, as I wondered how putting on a heavy yoke could ease my burden. Then I realized that a yoke is meant for a team of oxen – for two. We are not in the yoke alone, Jesus is with us and He carries the heavy part, if we let Him.

The difficult part for me is letting Jesus lead, not pulling in the opposite direction or digging my heels in when I don’t want to go where He’s taking me.

This analogy has helped me a lot in dealing with my daily sufferings. I pray it helps others as well.
 
Didi said:
I think of offering it up as willingly carrying my cross, my burdens, for God. I think of it also as being “yoked” with Him, as Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This passage used to confuse me some, as I wondered how putting on a heavy yoke could ease my burden. Then I realized that a yoke is meant for a team of oxen – for two. We are not in the yoke alone, Jesus is with us and He carries the heavy part, if we let Him.

The difficult part for me is letting Jesus lead, not pulling in the opposite direction or digging my heels in when I don’t want to go where He’s taking me.

This analogy has helped me a lot in dealing with my daily sufferings. I pray it helps others as well.
Click to expand...
I never knew what a yoke was either. You explained it beautifully.
 
iamrefreshed said:
Is this “offering up” also the same as “giving it to God” or “letting go”?

I have a great emotional burden that weighs me down daily.

What I read on this thread is the first sense I’ve been able to make of the “offering up” I’ve heard about.

Are they the same?
Click to expand...
from my relating to Jesus, the greatest thing I could ever do is to offer up to Jesus all I am, my faults, iniferiorities, failings, lack of interests to help others, lack of abilities to help, in abilities in understanding others Jesus way. All of these are my crosses along with my pain and suffering I go through.
I have at present a very sore stumich and I know that it pleases Jesus that I accept it the way He offered up His being to Our father in Heaven for our sins. I accept it all because Jesus went through more for me than I could ever go through ever for others. That keeps me going enjoying all chances of suffering and pain.

It is a great blessing to suffer for the sins of the world for others and for our own purification.
I hope that helps somewhat.

God bless
littleone
 
Thanks, everyone. You have shed some light on the subject.

The difficulty comes when the pain is bad. I’ve tried to go without the pain medication (which I hate! but it helps), and have managed some days without it by reminding myself nothing I experience nears the suffering of Jesus. But on occasion, I have offered it to Jesus, and then, later, reached for the pill. I don’t use the medication even remotely regularly, and don’t have an addiction to it (thank you, God), so that’s not the issue.

Does that invalidate the offering? Should I try harder?

In Prayer-
Beggar
 
Beggar said:
Thanks, everyone. You have shed some light on the subject.

The difficulty comes when the pain is bad. I’ve tried to go without the pain medication (which I hate! but it helps), and have managed some days without it by reminding myself nothing I experience nears the suffering of Jesus. But on occasion, I have offered it to Jesus, and then, later, reached for the pill. I don’t use the medication even remotely regularly, and don’t have an addiction to it (thank you, God), so that’s not the issue.

Does that invalidate the offering? Should I try harder?

In Prayer-
Beggar
Click to expand...
I have health issues as well, & I have to take meds…but there are lots of times when they just don’t do the job…
My “coping mechanism” has always been sputtering/whining/complaining. I have learned to take my meds, as I am prescribed to do, & right then, I say very simply, “Lord, this is gonna be one of those days. Every time I fume, or groan, or mutter about how I feel, take it as a prayer for someone who has no one to pray for them”. (Or other intention).
I don’t believe in messing with meds. Without them, I would be so miserable, I would :eek: stop trying to offer up suffering! I look at it like this: I hate taking all those pills, & I can offer that up, too. (14 just at bedtime…when I want to just lie down!).
God bless, & HTH!!
 
Beggar said:
Does that invalidate the offering? Should I try harder?
In Prayer-Beggar
Click to expand...
I remember hearing Mother Angelica talk about this once. She is the founder of the Catholic television and radio network, EWTN. She has suffered much in her life. She said that if you have a headache, take something for it, offer the pain while you have it. If it goes away, fine; if it doesn’t then we just have more to offer.

So, no, taking medication does not invalidate your offering.
 
Yes every person can offer some point but nothing is deeper than being in a situation that is on going.
I have always wanted to be a Dr, an Artist etc, I have the degree’s to get me there but I have a situation that holds me from going ahead. I understand you from that point.
I do ernastly offer that pain upto God for the sinns of the world and my own. I know that although I would like to be doing what I want, I know that for Jesus there is much more in my heart offering this pain for the sinns of self and others than to have the position and posession that comes from it for myself.

Be strong as I believe you are.

God bless
littleone
 
If I’m ill (for example, being doubled over in the bathroom - I get the chills really quickly and neasiated (sp) if something doesn’t agree), I always say, “Jesus, please accept my pain and allow me to offer it up”. (I think Jesus has a sense of humor, since I had a nice conversation with a bucket once after saying that!). Anyway, I also think of some of the saints who constantly had ailments and endured it every second of their lives, and also of Jesus’ suffering on the cross.
 
There is another side also that sometines Jesus has His way. I was hammering one day thinking of Jesus and I missed the nail hammering my thumb and as I unthinkingly offered this up to Jesus for my and others sins He took the pain away and I was left there dejected because i never wanted that.
Another time I had a severe head ach and offered it up, went to the Dr who told me I should be dead (blood preasure 184/114) when the Dr told me I should be dead or have had a stroke the prayer I said to Jesus came back to me. When i offered my body and life to Jesus He took the causes away from me.

I asked my parents to pray for me to be able to understand and beat the stress causes. As we prayed I actually felt the stress leave my body. That night I thought that I should go to the Dr at work who took my blood pressure and it is now 132/74 that he said is purfect. Only God can make changes like that.

There is this side also. I realy can’t count the times He has taken these major situations from me.
But there are other times when to offer suffering with a pure motive is the right action offering to Jesus that He needs for His reason.

God bless
littleone
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top