It seems that more than ever we are hearing many reports of people in the brotherhood who are experiencing severe trials through personal pain, or that of a family member. When it is far away, we can tell ourselves that the Lord chastens us as sons. We can tell ourselves to rejoice in persecution. But when it hits home, our perspective changes.
When the righteous suffer
A common type of suffering comes from the results of our own actions. Often we just make terrible choices. We are indeed weak, frail creatures and the pulls of the flesh are very strong. Unfortunately, we don’t always learn from our mistakes and may walk down the wrong road more than once. Mercifully, God forgives us if we repent and try to walk with Him. Suffering as a result of our own bad choices is much easier to understand and accept. Deep down, we know that we are suffering because of a decision to do our own thing, whatever the reason.
Yet did Joseph make the wrong decision? Why did a God-fearing, conscientious young lad have to endure hatred from his family and wrongful treatment and prison? He is a marvelous example of one who maintained his faith and integrity in adversity.
Jeremiah tried to give his fellow Jews and the king directions from God. For this he ended up in a dungeon in the mire. How despondent and forsaken he must have felt! We are told that Ebedmelech, fearing Jeremiah would starve, was able to persuade the king to allow him to pull him out.
Job, a righteous man, went through extreme personal persecution, yet he never cursed God.
The list is huge, and we are extremely blessed to have so many examples in the scriptures of faithful people who suffered through no fault of their own. The greatest example, of course, was the Lord Jesus Christ.
Looking to a glorious end
While we know that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God, what can we do to get through severe pain, loneliness and suffering? How do we hang on to our faith and never let it go?
I think it helps to consider the end of all things. James 5:11 tells us: “Behold we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.”
Joseph was ultimately released and attained to great heights; Job was doubly blessed in the end, and Christ was raised from the dead. Even Samson, although he died with the Philistines, is named among the faithful, and isn’t that what we all want?
At the end of the day, our youth and health deteriorate as we are indeed mortal, dying creatures. But in I Thessalonians 3:13, 14, we are told not to sorrow as others which have no hope, because those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
This is amazing! All pain and sin will be wiped away and God will “remember us for good,” and reconstitute us.
God will raise those who are asleep in Christ, our loved ones, the worthies of old. Christ will be reunited with his beloved disciples and followers. What a time of joy that will be! So that’s the end of the matter. In spite of what we have to go through now, God has promised to redeem us from sin and death, Christ being the living proof, the first fruit of the new creation.
Our “light” affliction
It will help us tremendously not to “kick against the pricks.” Attitude is very important as we travel through our life journey. We are exhorted to remember to ” rejoice, pray and give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thess. 5:18).
We need to keep this constantly in mind when we are going through a trial. God is allowing us to be in this situation. He knows the number of hairs on our heads. His ways are not our ways. With our limited scope, we only see the here and now. We don’t know the end of the matter. We have to trust that God will be “pitiful and of tender mercy.”
At the same time, we need to keep in mind that our suffering is called “light affliction” (II Cor. 4:17). Here there is a comparison between our suffering, which is but for a moment, and the “eternal weight of glory” which we derive from it.
We forget when we prosper
It is easy to forget that we benefit greatly from seeing the true state of humanity, that we are dying creatures and, without God, have no hope. It is a sad fact that when things are going well, we often forget God. Indeed, probably many of us realize that we call on God much more often and more fervently when we are in distress.
Helping one another
Finally, we need to remember to utilize the comfort and love of our brothers and sisters. Since God has ordained that we help each other, we have a great responsibility toward one another. The simple act of extending compassion, like the good Samaritan, cannot be overvalued. It is a gift from God, a refection of the love and care Jesus had for his followers.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One