“For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye TAKE IT PATIENTLY, this is acceptable with God” (1 Peter 2:20).
In this life trials and troubles are certain. Yes, for the Christian too. There is no such thing as an unscarred saint.
But to the believer in Jesus, there exists a sensible rationale. It's a rationale borne out in all Scripture. God gives no more than we can bear but behind every groan is His perfect plan. Matthew Henry remarked, "Afflictions are in the covenant, and therefore they are not meant for our hurt but are intended for our good." The storms of life no more indicate the absence of God than clouds indicate the absence of the sun. And, through it all, His grace is sufficient. He said so. "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it" (1 Corinthians 10:13, Message Paraphrase).
Now, here is a challenge to the Christian's faith. Robert Hall said, "We should be more anxious that our afflictions should benefit us than that they should be speedily removed from us." The Apostle Paul suffered at the hands of many cruel persecutors and also personally and physically. Some think he had a particularly annoying eye ailment. He said to the churches of Galatia, "See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand" (6:11). He wrote with a huge script because of his problem. But, even after asking God to take this particular point of agony from him (and God didn't), Paul proceeded to say, "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
And so, I think a well-focused faith when in the cellar of affliction looks for the Lord's choicest wines. What is God doing FOR (not TO) me? He never errs in His plan for my life. A robust faith even anticipates the outcome. What might God have in store for me? He's molding me, making me and shaping me for His own glorious purposes. One teacher remarked, "God does not mock his children with a night that has no ending; and to every man who stands resolute while the darkness lasts there comes at length the vindication of faith and the breaking of day."
The Psalmist, who himself was often sorely tried, said, "Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psalms 30:4-6). Adversity should not make us frail; it only shows how frail we are. And so, all troubles and trials in life serve as an opportunity to learn to know our God better. That's what He wants. Do we?
Dick Christen
