As we study the book of 1Peter on Sunday mornings we’re noticing how much of the small letter deals with the subject of suffering, trials and difficulties. We’re also realizing that this is a topic dealt with a great deal throughout the New Testament and indeed all of scripture. Jesus Himself promised that in this world we would experience trouble (John 16:33.) Paul reminds us that troubles of all kinds are tools in the capable hands of the One who is shaping our hearts into the likeness of His Sons’ when he wrote that, “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2Corinthians 4:17.)
I recently came upon the story of one man that personally experienced this truth in his life. His name is Gary Thomas. He relates:
“I used to be a vicious discipler. I never missed a quiet time, and if people I was working with did, I questioned the sincerity of their faith. Then God in His mercy crushed me for eight long years. Sins I had never faced before came roaring to life. Prayer became difficult. Ministry felt strained and awkward. I had no sense of God’s power coursing through me.
At the end of this period a door flew open, the darkness was lifted, and I was changed. I realized God doesn’t need someone who can preach better than anyone else, fast longer, pray more, or evangelize more. He wants somebody who loves His people. I knew a lot about discipline and commitment, but I knew nothing about love.
Difficulty teaches us to be pastoral people, something that does not come naturally to us. If we deny our own pain, we must also blind ourselves to the pain of others. We need difficulty because without it we become proud, self-centered, and uncaring monsters who are full of ourselves.
Difficulty is not to be feared or denied, but to be used. I’ve never heard someone say, “It was only after I made my first million that I finally understood the meaning of life, that my priorities were put in order, and my relationship with God was deepened.” But many of us have heard people say, “As much as I dislike the disease and the treatment, this cancer (or this unemployment or this betrayal) has taught me a lot about life.”
When we pray for ease and comfort, we are asking that God will allow us to remain shallow in our personalities and our faith. When we learn to see difficulty as the path of growth, our relationships will change. When we remember that difficulty can be positive, challenging relationships become a vital part of Christian spirituality. Difficult work, church, and family relationships, hurdles in ministry… all can be treasures if we place them in God’s hands.” - Gary Thomas, Thirsting for God
Maybe rather than asking God to remove our difficulties we should be asking Him to help us to be better students of what we need to be learning from them.
This was on my mind today. Through struggle and difficulty I look to God and everyone else to give me comfort and relief. I have also realized that my comfort zone is very small. You hear stories about this person or that who died of cancer with grace and didn’t complain until the end but comforted others. I marvel at these stories and I don’t see that depth in my character.
One night this week I called to my husband in the other room and he answered, “What, am I late to the pity party.” It was all in fun and we laughed but as I read this blog is comes back to mind.
2 Corinthians 4:10-11 (New Living Translation)
10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.
What is evident in me when I am complaining and begging for answers, healing, comfort, relief… It’s not Jesus.
Where do I go from here? Hopefully embrace the brokenness and let it have it’s full work. Stop grasping for what I want, life as I want it, and surrender to the life God is trying to give me. A life where Jesus is evident with patience, compassion and love.
Reckless Love
John 12:24-26 (The Message)
24-25″Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.
The past few years it has been a trial of walking through trials. Hard stuff. Heartbreaking stuff. Whether it’s the enemy or my flesh, it is still a battle to keep my eyes focused to where God is calling me. Sometimes my circumstances, thoughts and emotions cry out for undivided attention. My emotions can be the worst. They so desire to rule over every area of my life even wanting to dethrone God Himself. As sick as it sounds it’s in that moment that my repentant heart can come even closer to God. Entering into His presence warts and all I’m renewed, not by my own determination but by my complete surrender to the will of my Father. In His presence I’m given strength to keep going. I’m reminded of my beauty and gentleness, and I’m given the ability to walk in courage no matter what the circumstances.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2Cor 4:16-18