Not every chapter of suffering in your life is the work of God. Even though He is with you in it and even though He permitted it in His sovereignty, not everything is from His hand. Those who are persecuted today are being so because of the evils of man. But there are always two helpful questions to ask when you are going through a tough time: How can God be seen in me through this suffering? What does God want me to do in this?
When you are struggling through your circumstance it is hard to understand what the purpose is? It sometimes seems meaningless, unfair and the questions are many.
To those who suffer:
• You are nearer to the cross. The narrow-minded says ‘God never allows the innocent to perish’, and they alienate themselves from Jesus on the cross.
• You carry mystery, and therefore have a bigger God than those who have to explain everything.
• Triumph is greater than freedom. Although you desire to be free from suffering, being triumphant over it is ultimately a greater joy.
The Bible helps. The Pastor-author here says so, referring to a Scripture from Proverbs 3:-
“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (Hebrews 12 v 5-6)
So there are definite times when we suffer and it is God at work in our lives. Billy Graham once said: “God does not discipline us to subdue us, but to condition us for a life of usefulness and blessedness.”
- We must “not make light” of those times.
If you cannot see that God is wanting to make you more like Christ then you haven’t looked in the mirror for a while. If you cannot see the blind spots that others see so clearly then there is nothing to rein in, nothing to try to master and bring discipline into your own life. Ignorance isn’t bliss it often leads to unrestraint. Don’t ignore what is happening. God is at work.
- We must “not lose heart” in those times.
Anyone can confess the Christian faith. Anyone can hold on to this faith when their life is going well and they are feeling blessed, successful, victorious and appreciated. The seasons of great difficulty when you are grieving, when it appears you are losing, when the battle is intense and you feel like you will give in are proving only one thing that if you hold on, if you keep what you confess and do not cover up who you are, you will not only survive but you will prove that you are real and trustworthy.
- We must know “the Lord disciplines the one he loves”.
He doesn’t want you self-sufficient. He wants intimacy with you. He rebukes you not from a place of anger. He speaks to you from a broken heart. His discipline is not words alone. His discipline expects an enthusiasm to change the way you think which will then change the way you behave. His followers can be casual. His true friends have all been brought into line. He doesn’t want you to work at your spiritual temperature. He wants to come into your life. For He loves you!
Missions Paul 