Suffering

https://odb.org/MY/2022/02/05/not-for-our-comfort

The life story of Dan in today’s ODB is similar to that of the well known Toni Eareckson who became a paraplegic after suffering a spinal cord injury. They both sought healing from God but it never came. Instead, in their suffering, they persevered, from their perseverance, they had character and from character, they had hope. They both recognised and saw what God was doing in their midst and accepted the fact that it is through their sufferings that the glory of God will be manifested. Paul also likewise suffered loads of hardship in order that the glory of God may shine through his life in fulfilling his calling to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.

I believe everyone goes through sufferings one way or another. Some sufferings are self evident like paralysis. But most sufferings are hidden and people suffer in silence. We may seek healing and we may command healing but it is also a fact that not everyone gets healed despite the authority given to believers to command and pray for healing. Healing is still a matter of God’s grace in my view although some may disagree.

The question today is do we glory in our sufferings (Romans 5:3) knowing that suffering produces perseverance and perseverance produces character and character, hope? Do we rejoice inspite of our condition or situation? For example, if we are diabetic, it’s a life long preoccupation to control our diet, weight and take our medication. If we have cardio vascular issues, it’s a life long affair dealing with blood thinners and anti cholesterol medication which has long term implications on our liver. Or if we have had a colectomy, we need to live a life carrying a stoma bag with us.

If we are in such a long term situation of suffering, I think we must always remain positive and see the glory of God working in us. Glory in the fact that God is working through us through our sufferings. Remember the story of the beggar at Abraham’s bosom in paradise (Luke 16:19-21)? He laid at the rich man’s gate and longed to eat the crumbs that fell off the rich man’s table. But when they both died, it was a very different scenario.

As believers redeemed by the blood of Christ, having been reconciled with God the Father, we have an inheritance in the riches of His glory. Our destiny and inheritance in the kingdom of God are the things we should guard against and be protective. What we go through and suffer now here on earth pales in comparison to the glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18). No matter how great our sufferings are now, always see the glory of God that is in our midst, what God is and plans to do through our sufferings while focusing our eyes on the glory and inheritance that awaits us one day in heaven. See John 9:3 – neither he or his parents sinned. This happened so that the works of God may be displayed in him. In that particular situation, the blind beggar was healed but in other cases, it is through our sufferings that the glory of God may be manifested!