Why Do We Have to Suffer?

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4

Have you been going through some rough times lately? Does the verse above bring you any comfort? Does it bring you "pure joy"?

I have been recovering from surgery to both my legs that I had done February 29, 2012. I had hopes that the surgery would enable me to walk better. You see, I've had problems with my legs for years and was noticing that it was getting harder and harder to stand, let alone walk. Since my surgery I haven't noticed an improvement. In fact, I would say my situation is worse now. So, do I consider that "pure joy"? 

Of course not! My future looks bleak. I know there is a wheelchair waiting for me somewhere around the corner and quite frankly, I'm not looking forward to that. The whole purpose of the surgery was to be able to keep that wheelchair out of my future for a bit longer. But, if things don't improve soon I know that is where I'm heading. So, no I am not joyful about that at all.

However...James is not telling us to be joyful about pain and suffering. Do you think that anyone who stood at the foot of Jesus' cross was joyful about it? When Mary and Martha stood sobbing outside Lazarus' tomb do you think they were considering it pure joy? Of course not!

The type of joy James is talking about here, comes from the knowledge that God is personally involved in your life, allowing the pain and suffering for His good purposes. I once had my pastor say to me, "God, must have a lot of faith in you to put you through so much." Can you imagine that? God has faith in me? And He has faith in you too! So consider it pure joy my friends when you face trials of many kinds, because God is rooting for you. He is trusting that when the day comes and you stand before Him you will be "mature and complete, not lacking anything."

That is pure joy!

My First Prayer

When I was very young, around seven or eight years old, my family and I went camping in New Brunswick. It was quite a treat for me because we were using a tent trailer instead of a regular tent and while it didn't have half the things that tent trailers have today, I thought it was luxurious. 

As we made our way east, our main destination being Halifax, Nova Scotia to visit family, we ended up on the Cabot trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. As you can see from the picture, the Cabot Trail snakes along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the views are breathtaking and at times fearsome, if you look over the edge! As a child I sat in the backseat of our car (minus seat belts because we didn't have them then) absolutely terrified that we would head over the cliff at any moment, and I began to wonder about God and what would happen to me if I died. As we stopped at points along the road to take pictures, I marvelled at the beauty surrounding me and began to wonder if God even knew who I was. I had a rudimentary knowledge about Him. His son Jesus was born at Christmas and that same son died at Easter. That's about all I knew and fortunately for me, God decided to introduce Himself to me in an incredible way.


One night during our camping trip I woke to my mother, father and sister screaming at me. I woke up slowly and realized with a start that water was seeping through our "water-proof" tent trailer and the winds were gusting so hard my parents and sister were holding on to the poles in the hopes that the top wouldn't blow away. The sounds outside were terrifying, but the looks on my parents faces scared me even more. We were in danger! As everyone continued to scream at me to help a deep peace settled over me and I knew immediately what I had to do to save my family. I had to pray. So, I introduced myself to God and said quite simply, "Please Lord, make the storm stop and keep us all safe." While I continued to pray, my sister kept screaming at me to do something. In my child's mind, I was doing something! The most important thing. I was praying to the God of the universe. How audacious of me, when I hadn't really talked to Him before.


Imagine my surprise when, within five minutes of praying, the storm stopped. God had not only shown me how powerful He was but, when we stepped outside our tent trailer and I saw the damage around me (cars overturned, trees pulled out of the ground, etc.) He also showed me that He heard my prayers and He loved me enough to answer them. It was later confirmed that a tornado had gone through the camp. All around us was destruction and our tent trailer stood standing, with only a puddle of water on the floor to show we had been through something. I was absolutely floored at God's power and love and I was also convinced (and still am) that my prayer stopped the storm.


I learned two things that night - God was powerful and strong enough to make a storm start and stop. And He cared enough about me that He answered my prayer in such a way that it has impacted me all my life. God reached out and saved us that night (I should add that no one in the camp was hurt). That storm began my journey of faith in God and while it would be at least another eight or ten years before I understood how much God truly loved me by sending His Son to die for me, I have never forgotten how God reached out and introduced Himself to me and calmed me during the storm.

Are You Hiding in Church?

"12The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed." (Acts 5:12-16)

Today, as I was reading the above verses I was struck by something I have never noticed before. One verse in particular stood out and spoke to me.

"No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people."

The verse preceding this one says: " And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade." Solomon's Colonnade, also known as Solomon's Portico or Porch was situated in the court of the Gentiles for non-Jews. They were forbidden to enter any further into the Temple grounds. In fact, if a Gentile dared to enter into any of the inner courts, the penalty was death. The Romans permitted the Jewish authorities to carry out the death penalty for this offence, even if the offender were a Roman citizen. It was for this alleged crime that Paul was attacked and nearly beaten to death by an angry crowd during his last visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-32). 

First, I want to point out that Jesus always went to Solomon's Colonnade to preach when he was in Jerusalem. Do you realize how significant that is? He came not for the Jews alone but for everyone! When He ascended back into heaven His apostles carried on that tradition and met together regularly in the place known as Solomon's Colonnade. The believers all met there together. Now keep in mind that most of the believers were Jews. They could have gone further into the Temple area, but if they had, the women would have had to stay in the women's court and would never have heard or seen the miracles that took place there when Jesus was alive and especially on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down and filled everyone. No segregation for the early church! Everyone was equal.

Now, getting back to that verse that jumped out at me - "No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people." The apostles have chosen Solomon's Colonnade as their "church" where they prayed and worshipped and no doubt talked about Jesus. But "no one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people." Why didn't they join them if they thought so highly of them? Was it fear of arrest or fear of the apostles power? Even so, verse 14 goes on to say, "Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number." Why? Because they heard Peter and John preach, they saw how the believers acted with one another, they saw the miracles too and they believed.

In fact they believed so much that- "As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed." (Acts 5:15-16)

A church without walls in a place where the whole world passed by, heard about Jesus and saw His power through His Apostles. The early church situated themselves in a place where people of all kinds could hear them. In fact, it is believed that Solomon's Colonnade is where the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost (more on that in a later post). Where over 3,000 people were added in one day to their number. 

So, why did this verse jump out at me? Our churches today have walls and we have secluded ourselves inside them. People, unless they are brought by a friend or moved by the Spirit don't come to us - they don't dare. But, not out of fear. Today, it is because the word "Christian" or "church" in general is scorned. The world today has crazy beliefs about Christians and most people who don't go to church, don't go because of the image the media has portrayed of us. Most people don't think highly of Christians at all. Unlike the early church, we keep ourselves hidden on Sunday and only seem to come out when we have something to take a stand against, thereby giving the world at large a very bad impression of us. Plus, the media is very good at only highlighting those "crazy Christians". Most people never see the good we do. So what can we do to change our image?

Maybe we need a little more openness. Maybe we need to start tearing down some walls (figuratively speaking). Maybe we are too scared to admit that the people on the outside of our churches looking in, wouldn't see any difference between us and them at all. Our teenagers are sexually active. Marriages are ending in divorce. Drug and alcohol abuse are on the rise. We have adapted to the world and forgotten our "first love".

This is the church today.

The early church met together regularly for worship in a place where all could observe them and many came to the Lord outside of that circle of believers and were saved. 

Today, our church doors are open to anyone who wishes to enter, but what will they see once they come inside? What will they see at your church? People putting on a "Christlike attitude" or people who are putting on Christ?

He Died For Us

Today, an excerpt from from my novel Come to Me.

One soldier offered a cup of sour wine mixed with myrrh to each prisoner. The myrrh would deaden their senses and ease their pain—the only act of mercy the soldiers would show this day.

When they came to Jesus, he felt as if a war was waging inside him. He had not had a drink since the night before, at the Passover meal. Now he was unbelievably thirsty. His throat was parched, his tongue engorged, his lips were dry, swollen, and cracked. But he refused to take a drink. I must be fully aware of what I am doing. I must still be in control. When the guard saw that Jesus would not take the drink, he shrugged and threw the cup away.

They stripped Jesus of his clothes again, except for the loincloth, and ordered him to lie down on the cross. The other two prisoners put up a fight and refused to cooperate. A scuffle ensued and it took several soldiers to force the men onto their crossbeams, where they tied their arms with leather straps. Jesus prayed for the two men as he watched the soldiers drive nails into their hands.

Gut-wrenching screams filled the air. Jesus winced with each stroke of the hammer, knowing his turn was coming.

The soldiers turned toward him, expecting him to fight, but much to their surprise he willingly laid down on his cross and stretched out his arms. He winced as the shards of wood dug into his back, each movement horrendous. It will not be long now, he thought as the crown of thorns pressed further into his scalp.

After tying his arms to the crossbeam, the soldiers took a spike, and with one blow of the hammer drove it into one hand and then the other. The pain radiated up and down his arms and seemed to explode somewhere behind his eyes. Next, they hoisted him up, so that he was now hanging by his arms. It was agonizing. He could barely breathe. Left dangling by his arms, with no place to put his feet, he knew he would suffocate. Frantically, he tried to push himself up but could not find a foothold.

“Father! Father!” he groaned.

Finally, someone lifted his feet up and placed them on the ledge of another pole. Jesus gasped as he gulped in air. What relief! Thank you, Abba! However, relief was not in sight, for the soldier who had grabbed his feet was positioning them one on top of the other, so that another soldier could drive in the last spike. One more blow with the hammer and the spike went through both of his feet. The pain was indescribable, for it left his legs useless and now he felt like he would never breathe again. If he pushed up with his feet, excruciating pain flared up his legs. If he moved his arms, pain exploded down them and engulfed his chest. He realized quickly that he would suffocate to death, and so he stilled to wait that hour of his choosing. And so they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” Jesus cried.

Are you Exercising Your Faith?

"If you grew up in a Christian home, you probably said grace at your meals, attended church every Sunday, and had regular prayer and Bible study times. If you were like me, however, you only said grace when grandparents came to visit. Growing up, prayer times consisted of “Now I lay me down to sleep...” We learned The Lord’s Prayer in school. All of these things are good, but reciting prayers by rote and getting perfect attendance in Sunday school does not a Christian make. Faith in God and exercising that faith are essential to your Christian walk. So, how do we learn faith? Is it acquired through osmosis just by being part of a Christian family? Is it something that grows over time? How can we grow in faith? More importantly, how do we instill our faith in God in our children and other family members?" - from Learning from the Master

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Now some might say that faith is "wishful thinking", but I have to disagree. I have faith that the chair I'm sitting on will not collapse. Every time I sit in this chair I have faith it will support me. A simple thing really but an exercise of my faith. Recently, I have had to exercise my faith in people I didn't know - doctors. After a surgery that was flawless, my recovery has been anything but.  Even so, I had to trust that my doctors knew what they were doing. I have struggled so much that I cried out for prayer from my friends and family because I was in so much pain that I could not concentrate. At times I felt abandoned by God, however I still had faith that God would intervene and heal me. (To see what God did in my life visit http://www.laurajdavis.com)


Faith is instilled in our children when they see it in action. 

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says, “4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates."

When you put your faith into action, by trusting God and His promises you will find something else that blossoms - your love for God. It will grow and mature as love does, until your faith in God cannot be shaken. Oh, we may have our moments of weakness, when, like Jesus who cried on the cross, "My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken me?" we feel abandoned by God, but it is during those times of testing when we need to exercise our faith the most.


"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." - Romans 5:3-5

It's time for a Giveaway!

In honour of my new bible study Learning from the Master: Living a Surrendered Life, which is due out next month, I am having a giveaway! You could win a $25 gift card from Christianbook.com, a signed copy of my novel Come to Me and a copy of The Star of Bethlehem DVD from creator Rick Larson!

Learning from the Master: Living a Surrendered Life is a bible study that works in conjunction with my novel Come to Me. You read a few chapters of Come to Me to get a feel for the way Jesus lived, then you dig into scripture, using Learning from the Master, to learn how to follow His example.

“Learning from the Master will guide those who read it into a deeper understanding of what it means to live a surrendered life.”

- Rick Larson, creator, The Star of Bethlehem DVD

“Embracing the fullness of life means accepting the truth to find that life. Laura has captured the essence of pursing and getting hold of that truth from our Master, Jesus Christ. The beauty in this study guide, is that Laura guides us along a rich journey of discovery through the tender  and loving eyes of Jesus’ mother, Mary. Learning from the Master is rich with compassion; but chock full of challenges and wisdom. Be prepared to be transformed.”

– Heidi McLaughlin, Author of Sand to Pearls

From the cradle to the cross, Come to Me speaks to the hearts of those who are seeking and deepens the faith of long-time believers. It is a moving tale of the life of Christ from the mother who raised him to become the Saviour of the world.

“Author Laura Davis examines the life of Mary, mother of Jesus.  We hear the tender maternal love, the worry, the fears and the awe-inspiring faith that allowed her to become the vessel to carry God's only Son.  Laura writes with a gentle hand and yet doesn't hold back on the reality of the cross.  It is a fascinating perspective and a wonderful read.” 

- Award-winning Author, Donna Dawson 

"This novel manages to capture many of the everyday occurrences that may happen in normal family life in our expressions of love, concern, fear, joy and sorrow. Davis’ novel Come to Me gives a human face to the holy family which makes us love this story about Jesus, Mary and Joseph all the more. Davis has managed to retell an age-old story in a new and exciting way.  I truly enjoyed reading this book and I hope you take the time to enjoy it as well."

 -Dolores Ayotte, Author, of Growing Up and Liking It

From Producer Stephen McEveety (The Passion of the Christ) comes an amazing documentary on the Star of Bethlehem. This presentation, has rapidly grown in popularity around the world by thousands who have seen this dramatic revelation as it explores the exciting truth of scripture and reveals the evidence for God s existence as seen in the stars above. Presenter Rick Larson walks you through Biblical and historical clues revealing the incredible significance of this celestial event as well as the vastness of God s creativity. 

The perfect addition to Learning from the Master and Come to Me. Enter now for your chance to win the $25 gift card from Christianbook.com, a signed copy of Come to Me and The Star of Bethlehem DVD. Contest ends March 5, 2012.

What is the Difference Between Sacrifice and Offerings?

2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” —John 12:2-8

We often look to Jesus as our example of what it means to make a sacrifice of love. Indeed, His sacrifice was the ultimate sacrifice and no one before or after Him has ever made such a great sacrifice for mankind. It is all the more amazing when you take into account where Jesus came from and who He was. John 1:1-2 reminds us that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was God in the beginning." We learn in John 1:14 who the Word was - The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." Amazing isn't it? God poured Himself into the form of a man named Jesus (The Word) who became flesh and dwelt among us, only to take that body and have it die a horrible, cruel and painful death that would be for the redemption of all humanity.

Is there anything we could ever do to say thank you? Would there ever be enough offerings in the world of our money or time that would even begin to come close to Jesus' sacrifice for us? Fortunately, it is not the outward things that Jesus' looks at when we come to Him with our offerings.

It is the heart.

Mary's offering was not only one of love but it was costly for her and I don't mean the price of the perfume. Her anointing of Jesus was so tender and filled with such adoration, she gave no thought to the cost of the perfume or her reputation. She uncovered her hair and dried his feet with it. No doubt everyone in the room was feeling uncomfortable with such an intimate display. But not Jesus. He knew right away the feelings in her heart. It was the motive behind her offering. I use offering and sacrifice interchangeably here because that is exactly what our offerings to God should be - an offering and a sacrifice. Her sacrifice was the cost of the perfume and her reputation, her offering was the way in which she gave it - humbly and full of love.

How are you doing with your "offerings"? Are they dropped in the plate each Sunday without a thought? Do you give till it hurts? Do you give because it is expected of you? Or because you want to show God how much you love Him? Somehow I think we have done God a disservice when we treat our offerings and sacrifices so lightly.

We often hear the term in church "a sacrifice of praise" and when you think of it in the context of what Mary did, we can see how this term has become somewhat twisted. It is not a sacrifice (or it shouldn't be) to praise God. Sacrifice is supposed to hurt. It is giving up something. That is what Lent is all about - sacrifice. As Jesus gave himself up for us.

Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

As you continue to honour our Lord's sacrifice this Lenten season, remember that sacrifice and offerings are not what you put in the plate on Sunday morning, but how you live your lives before Him each day. This becomes your act of worship, your offering - how you give yourself back to Him becomes your sacrifice.