Today I am so privileged to introduce you to one of my (new) dear friends and kind-of-partner-ish-boss from Army Wife Network, Crystal Niehoff. She is AWN’s Owner and “Commander” (and I am blessed to be her Editor-In-Chief and Deputy Commander.) Crystal has a lot of great things to share– and this post is one of them!
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It is perfectly normal to question “why” when we are in the midst of trials and adversities. Why is God allowing me to suffer? Why doesn’t the Lord heal this illness? Why can’t we get ahead financially? Why is my family facing all these difficulties?
These past few years (due to some tragic events that have occurred in my family) I have searched God’s Word, seeking answers as to why we have to go through such grief and difficulties in this life. I would be lying to you if I told you I figured out the answers to all these questions. Truth is, there are just some things we will not know, or fully comprehend, this side of heaven. For whatever reason, trials are a part of life, and in John 16:33, Jesus acknowledges that “in this life we will have trouble.” Christ then gives us the assurance that He has overcome this world. One day, for those who believe, we will be in glory and there will be no more tears (Revelation 21:4).
However, this offers little comfort for today, right now, while we are enduring difficult circumstances and fiery trials. Especially when we are hit with a devastating blow, like job loss, cancer, or the death of a loved one. It is at times like these, when the very worst happens, when our world caves in, that we need to hold onto hope and to feel that our pain is not in vain. That something good can, and will, come out of it.
Second Corinthians 1:3-4 gives us the assurance that our present suffering is not in vain. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” I call this God’s Principle of “Because and Affect.” Because we have been comforted by God in our troubles, we can have an affect on the lives of others by offering that same comfort to them in the midst of their struggle.
The word “affect” is a verb which means “to have an influence on; to impress or to move; to produce a change in something or someone.” Any word that is defined as a verb means that it is active, not passive. Jumping, running, singing are all examples of verbs. To have an “affect” on someone’s life, means we are actively doing something which influences, impresses or moves them–preferably in a positive way.
God the Father wants us to glean from our pain and His comfort, to actively come alongside others who are suffering and provide compassion and comfort to them. Because you have walked the path of difficulties and made it through– thanks be to God–you can now come to the aid of another and help them make it through…Because and Affect.
Because you have endured _(insert your difficult circumstance here)__, you can positively affect the life of another in the midst of their painful ordeal. Who better than you? You know what it’s like to wrestle with pain and suffering and come through it with a stronger faith. This is God’s loving and compassionate way in which He draws beauty from our struggles, and brings purpose to our pain. My friend, when you are struggling through difficult times, God will comfort you, and then, pass it on! That is God’s Principle of Because and Affect.
Friends, do you resonate with Crystal’s words from God’s truth? If so, join the conversation and leave a comment.
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Crystal is married to her best friend, Army Chaplain (MAJ) Kevin Niehoff; and is the proud work-at-home mom of Aricka and Seth, two furbabies, and three grown children who have started families of their own. Formerly a child welfare worker, Crystal additionally holds certifications as a doula, and birth and bereavement chaplain. In 2014, she founded Heartstrings Ministries, providing grief support for military families enduring pregnancy loss in any trimester. Her e-book, Dads & Bereavement, can be obtained through StillBirthDay. An avid writer as well, Crystal has written extensively for non-profit organizations, including TFI Family Services, Inc., CASA for Children, Bethany Christian Services, and Rainbow Kids Adoption & Welfare Advocacy through which she shares her expertise on parenting, foster care, and adoption. Crystal is a contributing author of From Reveille to Retreat, the Journey of a Lifetime: A Handbook for the Army Chaplain’s Spouse, published by the U.S. Army in 2015. In her not-so-spare time, Crystal enjoys reading, traveling, and photography. She and her family currently live in Fort Hood, Texas.
