Suffering does not give us the right to complain, grumble, give in to self-pity, or even to withdraw into a "shell". Maybe that sounds like a harsh statement. Maybe it sounds unfair or uncaring because those emotions and attitudes are natural. I share those particular sins because they are exactly what I am prone to do when the trials come, when the days are hard, or when there are seasons that don't make sense and are full of uncertainty....because they are a natural response.
Yet, we are not called to live in the flesh and do what is "natural", we are called to walk by the Spirit. We are not called to respond like those around us that are without Christ...we are called to walk in the sufficient grace of our great God knowing that His strength is perfected in our weakness. We are called to entrust ourselves to our faithful Father...climbing into His "lap"...and humbly resting in Him as we cry out for Him to act on our behalf, as we cast our cares upon Him.
But that entrusting does not mean inactivity...we don't rest in the shadow of His wing and let time pass us by until the clouds are gone. I Peter 4:19 says that we are to continue to DO WHAT IS GOOD! And, if we look up just a few verses to I Peter 4:7-11, we see some of the good God calls us to do...not when the suffering has past...but during the suffering:
- pray with urgency, knowing that Christ is coming soon
- maintain constant love for one another...which will cover sin with forgiveness and grace
- be hospitable to others...without complaining
- recognize the grace we have received from God and serve others with the gifts He has given us
- be in the Word...meditate on it...so that, when we speak, we are conversationally speaking His Word
- serve in the strength He provides...don't ever think it will work to just "get it done"
- pursue the glory of God with everything in you...live Corem Deo (before the face of God)
When you think about it, if you are busy doing all these things...there isn't much time or room to focus on your particular trial or suffering, is there? Instead of our plate being full of grumbling, complaining and self pity, it is full of love, service and His Word. And, in pursuing what is good, we are feeding our soul with what brings God glory instead of magnifying our sin.
Of course, you and I both know that some suffering halts life as we know it, changing the direction of our days in a way that causes tears to flow and pain to be a constant companion. There may be times where you truly can do nothing more than cling to the goodness of God as you hold on for dear life to all you know to be true and real, though a hurricane of heartache has wrecked every bit of normalcy you had experienced before. There may be times when your prayers are barely more than groans, your love for others is experienced best in how they love and minister to you, hospitality is realized in Jesus's welcoming you to the Throne so you can cry out for mercy in your time of need, you catch glimpses of what it truly means for God's grace to be sufficient in all things, His Word is all that keeps you sane, and His strength is all that keeps you standing. If this is you...if this is the kind of suffering you are enduring...take heart in the words of I Peter 5:10:
"The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while."
Whatever the suffering may be, whatever the pain your heart may feel...whether you are entering a season of trial, walking through the valley of the shadow of death or climbing out of it; I would like to pass on a precious encouragement that my fellow pastor's wife shared with me:
"Am I supposed to beg God for help or just praise Him and let Him do whatever He is going to do? The answer is "Yes!" Today, spend time pleading your case to the Lord. Give Him list after list, details after detail. Plead your cause with all your heart until you can't think of one more single thing to ask Him. Then, praise the Lord with just as much fervor and pleading as your requests. Thank Him, worship Him, and honor Him. Praise Him that each and every one of the truck-load of requests you just poured out at His feet are going to be heard. Praise Him for Christ and for His gospel and for salvation. Lift up your voice in thanksgiving and song. Adore God with your whole being."
Pastor Steve Swartz "Strength in the River"
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