It's so easy and, in ways, "natural" for us to resist trials. Living as a Christian, sometimes I think we get too comfortable with the concept of trying to pray away our pain along with our seasons of suffering. Yes, I absolutely, 100%, believe in fasting and prayer as being vital parts of our relationship with Jesus. But, I absolutely, do not want my prayer life to only be riddled with my human minded petitions, but rather also be woven with sincere praise and trust. Please, don't misunderstand me, I cry out to God everyday, as my heart feels broken, but He deserves to be praised IN this storm - not just when He provides a way OUT of it. I have faith in Jesus, who still heals and calms storms but that doesn't mean that those things should define Him and my relationship with Him. Sometimes He spares us of our suffering, other times He uses our suffering to bring us to a place of repentance, abundance and glory. The Lord is very much able, but we mustn't forget that He is also sovereign. I don't want to face this storm, with my family, only having faith in Jesus' ability, but in His name; His goodness apart from what He does or doesn't do for us.
Sure, there is a rather large part of me that would love for all of this to go away and for my son's suffering to cease, but if I spend my days pleading for all of this to go away am I truly trusting and resting? Or would my prayers then reveal that I am resisting a season, that He has allowed to come our way?
Allowed this season... this rough, heart wrenching, painful, confusing, tear-filled, mourning, desperate season? Exactly. In this moment, when my life seems to be turned upside down, can I really say that I trust God, with my whole heart, and then want to [strive to] "fix" everything around me to my liking or to fit my view of what I think is best for my family? When it comes to suffering [among other things], perhaps we need to remember what side of Heaven we are on. We still live in a place where, regardless of who we are, resistance can suddenly turn to rebellion as sin tries to hide in us [destroy us]- under a mask of Christian talk, Sunday church quotes on FB, and false humility leaking out through our words... and sometimes even into our prayers. Oh yes, we are on this side of Heaven where God lovingly uses suffering so that grace, refinement, and redemption can flourish in us and, in return, show us Who truly reigns.
Can any "good" possibly come from all of this suffering? Why would God allow such a painful trial?
Romans 5:1-5 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Can we face suffering and tribulation and yet still have peace as we rest in Jesus? But, if we rest and have peace, does that mean that we have given up on hope, healing, and prayer?
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Can a season of suffering result from sin? Absolutely, but does that mean that all suffering is due to sin?
John 9:1-5 "As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind.'"
"'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,'" said Jesus, '"But this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, He must do the work of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.'"
I am a Christian, I am a "good" person, why must I suffer? It's not about how "good" we are, it's about God's glory!
1 Peter 4:12-13 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
"God wouldn't bring this upon my family, He wouldn't lead us here! This MUST be from satan." When those are nearly the only thoughts that fill our mind and take over our prayers, I think we have to reevaluate what our view of GOD, the great I AM, is.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you... to teach you that man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
God is good and has a purpose... even in this?
Psam 66:8-12 "Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance."
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