The Joy in Our Suffering
Have you ever met a person who has been through more pain, heartache, and suffering in a few months or years than most go through in a lifetime? How about those same people who, no matter what, radiate with a constant joy? We hear some of their stories and think, why are they not angry or bitter? How can they have such peace in such a terrible situation? How can they trust God for allowing their circumstances?
We wonder how those people can be so joyful in a time of suffering. It seems unimaginable to have such hope, peace, and expectation in the worst of circumstances. As Christians we will walk through life and endure many trials and difficulties (Acts 14:22) and many times our heads are filled with the desperate question -- why?
The enemy will feed us lies to stir up feelings of disbelief about who God is and his love for us. We start to think...
-Why did God do this to me?
-Where is he when I need him most?
-Has God abandoned me?
-Does he really love me?
Once again we find ourselves in the Garden of Eden listening to the serpent and believing that our wisdom and understanding is greater than the all-mighty, sovereign God of the universe. But what the enemy tells us cannot stand against what the Gospel shows us.
Out of love Jesus suffered for our sins once for all time (1 Peter 3:18). God became flesh and took our place on the cross where he suffered physical punishment and physical death. Because of his sacrifice and his grace, we are freely made right in his sight when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives (Romans 3:24). Not only do we have the gift of salvation and eternal life, we also inherit the promises he has for us in this life. Promises of hope, comfort, peace, freedom, restoration, deliverance, a filling of the Holy Spirit (to name a few). It is the Gospel that provides the fertile soil to plant our seeds of faith.
It can be so easy to have faith when everything is going right in our lives. But if our roots are not planted deep in the Gospel, all it takes is a bad health report, losing a job, a life changing injury, or a failed marriage and we find ourselves sitting in a pit of complete hopelessness. How come it takes circumstances like this for us to FINALLY realize our need and dependence on God's grace and mercy in our lives? It is when we forfeit our hope and comfort in the riches of the world that our eyes are opened to the riches of heaven through Jesus Christ. When pain and disease have a tight grip on us, we must take heart that Jesus continues to heal and perform miracles today, and PRAISE him for the work he will do in us so that he will be glorified. For we know that suffering will not last when we live in the power of his resurrection.
Sometimes it takes situations like these for us to draw near to God, to grab hold of his hand and allow him to pull us from the pit of despair. These times of suffering lead us to repentance when we can profess that "Nothing + Jesus = Everything" and "Everything - Jesus = Nothing." When we take refuge in the comfort and the hope given by God through Jesus, a transformation begins to happen. Our faith begins to grow. A breakthrough occurs. The power of the Holy Spirit inside of us begins to renew our minds to the likeness of Christ where we can look directly at our trials and difficult situations with a new attitude. An attitude of inexpressible joy and unshakable trust as we look forward to sharing in God's glory on the day when Jesus comes again in final victory (1 Peter 7-8). For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). We must hold on to this truth. And when we do, suddenly the earthly things that our lives have been built on become meaningless, because we know that we have everything we could ever need in Jesus Christ. We start to see these valleys as opportunities to call on the One who knows us by name and to rest in his truths and promises.
There has never been a greater display of love than Jesus laying down his life for us on the cross (1 John 3:16). Our Father loves us so much that he sacrificed his Son for us so that we could spend eternity in heaven with him. This kind of love is not fleeting or circumstantial. It has and always will be there to cover us when we feel broken, defeated, and alone. Even when we try run from it, God's love will chase us down and meet us where we are to remind us how good of a Father he is.
I pray that my faith can endure the certain storms to come in the future. I pray that when I experience pain and heartache that I will focus on the nail-pierced hands that are stretched out to me in love. I pray that I can use the comfort I receive from God to comfort others in their struggles. I pray that I can praise God the same on both the mountaintops and in the valleys. I pray that I can bear the fruit of JOY no matter what the world throws my way.
For my brothers and sisters in Christ, I pray the same for you too.