Pain plants the flag of truth within a rebel fortress. C.S. Lewis
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake. Philippians 1:29
We live in a society that is radically committed to ending suffering. Our culture is convinced that suffering is bad and must be eliminated. Even medicine has gone from making people well to making people happy (whatever that is).
The Bible has a completely different view of suffering. For the believer suffering is actually a grace. Like Lewis says, pain plants the flag of truth in the rebel fortress. When we suffer we realize so much that we can’t see in the painless times.
We realize our need for God and others (the church). My ten month old is learning how to climb down stairs. When he gets stuck he reaches for daddy’s hand. When he falls and bonks his head he reaches for mommy’s embrace. We are no different. When we fall we are more (often painfully)aware of our need for our Heavenly Father.
Likewise, since we are created in the image of a triune God, we have a deep-seeded, intentionally given need for community. Suffering shows us our inadequacy to handle life on our own.
Lastly, suffering obliterates our idols. Nothing shows us the insufficiency of our empty idols like suffering. No amount of attractiveness, intelligence, athleticism, obedience, or any other false sense of security and worth can deliver us when we are truly suffering. Again, reflecting on Lewis’ words, the flag of truth is planted in our rebel souls. We are exposed as needy idolaters, made poor in spirit, and prepared for the grace of God to be poured into our desperate hearts.
If you are suffering today (which is another way of saying – if you are alive today) know that your Heavenly Father is allowing it for your good. Run to him. Repent for your idols. Talk to your friends. Don’t suffer alone.
2 Corinthians 1:5
For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Hymn of the Day – I Asked the Lord by John Newton
I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face
Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair
I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He'd answer my request
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest
Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part
Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low
Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
"Tis in this way" The Lord replied
"I answer prayer for grace and faith"
“These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me,
That thou mayest seek thy all in me.”
6 comments:
Interesting post. Last Sunday our sermon was titled "The Unavoidable Cross." That unavoidable cross is an unpopular belief these days. The cross is an embarrassment in the modern Christian church and the mere mention of it is being banned more and more from churches. It's not the sacrifice that God made FOR US on that old rugged cross, but the cross WE must bear - the suffering, putting the flesh to death, being others centered, needing others, being accountable to others, recognizing our idols and putting them away. That is the way of the cross. It involves suffering. It's not a happy, happy, happy, feel good message, but, a necessary one to embrace with joy if we are true believers.
Oh, the wonderful cross,
Oh, the wonderful cross,
Bids me come and die
to find that I may truly live.
Oh, the wonderful cross,
Oh, the wonderful cross,
All who gather here
By grace draw near
And bless your name!
I just listened to a sermon online that Danny sent me yesterday by Mark Driscoll entitled Death by Love. It's about the cross.
http://www.marshillchurch.org/
If this link doesn't take you directly to the sermon, you can get there by selecting downloads from the main page, then sermons, then specials. He talks about why even Christ's death FOR US on the cross is an offense to so many. This sermon covers a lot of territory and I was profoundly impacted by it. For one thing, he portrays what crucifixion was like and what its purpose was; what today's equivalent might be like. It isn't made pretty. It's raw. But if a person listened to this sermon every couple of days, it would put everything we view as suffering in our own lives into much better perspective. And that's just the first half of the message.
As I listened, I kept thinking about the kinds of things that cause me stress and anxiety. I felt like the biggest wimp on the planet.
Months ago, I had a dream that was so real. I was in a huge arena, surrounded by people I knew and strangers. The only person I remember talking to was Janette. I was more afraid in that dream than I have ever been at any time in my life and I was sobbing uncontrollably. The event was my own public crucifixion. Everyone in the room was there to watch. Janette was there as my friend. I was terrified. There is no way to put into words the terror I felt in that dream. I was imagining what it was going to feel like to have nails driven into my hands and feet. And then I woke up.
That dream came at a time when I was dreading a situation I was going to face and anticipating the rejection of people. I felt like the Lord was telling me "There's a cross for you, too." I'm not comparing mine to his. Don't misunderstand. But I'm realizing more and more that my current crosses and the little doses of rejection I experience now are part of building my faith and my courage for greater sacrifices that lie ahead.
Just living in this country, we don't know what it is to suffer the way the majority of the world suffers daily.
Disclaimer: Mark Driscoll is very direct and blunt. He doesn't mince words and occasionally uses a word that you are not accustomed to hearing from a preacher. For this reason, you may cringe here and there while you listen to him. But listen anyway! It's a powerful message!
When Danny sent me this to listen to, he said "I would love to hear your thoughts." I have to admit that this guy did make me cringe a few times. But I got so much out of listening to him.
I agree that there is certainly an element of "our cross" being suffering, but there is also an aspect of picking up our cross that means we cannot save ourselves. Picking up our cross and following him means we admit we can do nothing in ourselves. It is certainly something to be held in tension, but can't be ignored. Human nature doesn't like being helpless. Picking up our cross s first of all recognizing our need for the Savior.
That is SO true -- "When we suffer we realize so much what we can't see in the painless times." -- I've recently grown to appreciate and embrace the pain and suffering that comes with being in this world, for that very reason. I realized a couple weeks ago that I kinda like suffering now :o) in a weird sorta way. I realized that I'm drawn to the comfort of God when I'm lonely, or longing, or even hurting for my child.. and I really like that. In painless times I don't always go running to Him. Suffering sort of "shoves" me to Him, actually. :) And, when I'm crying out to Him I ALWAYS find comfort and safety and peace -- and feel so secure. It's indescribable, really. That is when God pours into MY desperate heart.... and I'm so grateful He chooses to, aren't you? Suffering sheds light on the idols I've set up in my life and reminds me in whom my trust and confidence should be. With a strange kind of irony, I welcome the suffering. It catapults me to Him and I really like it there, with Him. He is my husband, my best friend, my constant companion and the only dependable source to put my trust in - the only safe one to bear my soul to - the only one who truly "gets" me - and the only one with whom I can share the deepest secrets of my heart and not be rejected. If it wasn't for the suffering, I know I wouldn't crave Him like I do during the dark days. I would still talk to Him and have a relationship with Him, but it wouldn't be as close. It wouldn't be as real. I know I wouldn't pursue Him or hungry for Him to the extent I do when I'm hurting or scared. Do you know what I mean? Does anyone else feel the same, or am I the only one out here with problems? :) So here's my point (and I DO have one!) ha -- I am grateful for the trials and tribs, because with them comes safety and peace in my Creator - comfort and shelter with the only one who knows my inner most thoughts and unloveable parts, and still loves me as if I'm perfect... So, bring it on! :o)~
Tess - I do understand what you're saying and yet, in some ways, I am in the process of learning how to turn to God the way you describe.
I can especially relate to your comment about suffering shedding light on our idols and where our confidence should be. As a result of listening to Tim Keller regularly, I have learned better how to identify the idols in my life. I honestly did not realize I had idols before. At least, not in the way I understand now. I realize now that because God loves me, He WILL tear down these idols in my life. One idol I struggle to let go of/hang onto is being understood, accepted and loved by (all) other people. I never realized that caring so much about how others viewed me could be an idol. But after listening to Dr. Keller, I started really paying attention to how it "rocked my world" when I even anticipated possible rejection. But the more I have grown in my understanding of the gospel, the more being misunderstood by others or experiencing the fear of rejection causes me to feel God's acceptance even stronger. And that reminds me, as you said, of what I'm trusting in and in whom I should be trusting -- in every situation and even when things are going pretty well.
I am so grateful for His love and mercy. And I know suffering is a part of knowing that love and mercy.
I enjoyed reading your post.
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