Help in the Pain - Pt 1
Do not be surprised – 1 Peter 4:12
Pain and suffering and heartache are all very real. Being persecuted for your faith, being diagnosed with cancer, watching your mother die of Parkinson's, losing a child, or just living with the disappointments and crushing realities of life, pain and suffering touch all of us. And for some, the suffering is deep and long-lasting.
One of the problems with suffering is that it can quickly cause us to narrow our focus, throwing us into a type of panic where we disregard almost everything else and know nothing other than our pain. So, if we don't have a deeply embedded theology of suffering, we will struggle more than we should. While I won't be able to do justice to the entire problem of suffering, I would like to share a few thoughts with you.
As Christians, we live in an already-but-not-yet segment of time. We are already part of God's kingdom, but this kingdom is not in its final condition. We are already saved, and sealed, and adopted, and forgiven.
The price of redemption has been paid, and Jesus is ours, and we are His. But there are still more that need to be rescued before Jesus returns, and all sin and pain are gone. So, while we have been rescued, God is not done, and that means we're still living in a broken world.
The Apostle Paul refers to this already-but-not-yet reality of suffering in multiple places. One of these is Romans 8, where he mentions present suffering compared to future glory. He says creation itself is waiting for freedom from decay, and we in our suffering await the redemption of our bodies.
So, rather than simply escaping our troubles, we have been called to stay in the struggle and shine the light of Jesus into a dying world. Sometimes this happens through our pain. Now, that doesn't mean we can't find victory while in the struggle. We can, and we should. Just think of all the countless number of saints who have, in steadfast hope, suffered well. It's natural to try to figure out exactly what good God will bring from our suffering.
It's easy to think that God owes us an explanation. Have you ever asked, God, what are you doing? Or, why are you doing this? If we could just know specifics, we might be able to cope better because we would know exactly what's going on. I think there's a better way, because who can begin to know exactly how God is working and exactly what good He is bringing about in the struggle? Instead of questioning God, we should trust Him to do what's best.
And He has given us promise after promise that we can count on. Here's one. In Isaiah 43:2, we read, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep you over. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze."
God uses the difficulties here to remind us that the answers to life are not found here. Everything here will end, but Jesus and His love for us will never end.
Jesus, you are the only one who can rescue us from eternal suffering. I'm sorry for thinking that I don't deserve to have pain here. Thank you for suffering for me in ways I can't even imagine. Please cause me to be filled with the joy of your goodness, even though this life can be painful.
So, let me leave you with this. Have you ever said, God, please use me to further your kingdom and the glory of Jesus? This often takes place while in difficulty, and when this happens, we are sharing in the sufferings of Christ. In 1 Peter 4:12-13, we read this, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed."
Song: Blessed Be Your Name