Suffering

I was once a part of a tiny church plant in South Carolina. At the time, I thought they were great. They were saying things that were shaking my soul up and moving me to want to know more about Jesus. Until one Sunday. You have to understand, this was a 'faith based' church, meaning that everything about it revolved around faith. Every service was about faith. Every conversation led to faith. (I am not in any way bashing faith... faith is a beautiful thing that is necessary and can move mountains.. But having faith means trusting that God is right... no matter what happens.) Back to this particular Sunday morning. The pastor was teaching about his friend (who was also a pastor). He explained how his friend's wife had been diagnosed with cancer, and after a long battle, ultimately lost. His friend called him and was overcome with confusion and grief. He asked his friend (my pastor) why God had done this. Why had God taken his wife away from him? My pastor simply responded with, "You didn't have enough faith." This lesson made my stomach turn and I knew something was off about this man's beliefs. This was not the teachings of the Jesus I knew.

That Sunday has sat in my memory for years now. I knew what he was teaching was wrong, I just didn't know why. I have been searching. I have been reading scripture. I think I can take this guy in a faith/cancer/suffering debate now. Bring. It. On.

John 16:33  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus is telling his disciples here to have courage. Although they would face struggles.. huge ones... they wouldn't be alone. Jesus would never abandon them- and He would never abandon you or I either. We have to remember that the ultimate victory has been won, so we can claim peace in Jesus' name. No matter how big our circumstance. No matter how far along our cancer is. No matter how many of our loved ones pass away.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9  ..Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

This is Paul talking here. We know he had a problem. A big one. One that was chronic and debilitating. One that kept him from working at times. One that was so horrible, he compared it to hell... Paul prayed three times for the Lord to take this problem from him. Now, I don't know about you.. but I have read a lot about Paul. This was a passionate guy. If there is a picture of faith... he might be it. So, I do not doubt that this man had enough faith to heal him. But, I know that God responded to his prayers with something greater. His problem gave Paul a stronger character, humility, and an ability to empathize with others. Other people were saved because Paul was able to relate to them. Because Paul showed them, that although there is pain and suffering in this life- there is also peace that comes only from Jesus. 

Let's wrap our minds around this. Suffering sucks. It truly does. Nobody asks for an extra helping of pain and turmoil. But, it's a part of this life, in this sinful world. Even our God- Jesus- suffered while on this earth. He was homeless. A drifter. He didn't have the luxuries of clean clothes, a hot shower, and a warm bed. He didn't have a fridge full of food and cold water at his disposal. No. He suffered. Even unto death. So, why would we ever think that we would have an easy breezy life just because we chose to love Him back?

God could heal everyone with every prayer that is breathed into the atmosphere. He could blink and every sickness would be gone. Every pain relieved. But His ways are greater than ours. His plan is sovereign and good. We don't know why God chooses to heal some and not others. It's not our job to know all the details and inner workings of the Most High... I am pretty confident that our minds couldn't fathom it anyway. It is our job to pray, believe, and trust that God has us. If we are healed- praise Him! If we aren't- praise Him anyway! Our spiritual condition is always more important than our physical condition. These bodies will waste away... but our souls will live on eternally praising Him.

Here are some other great verses to look up and allow to soak in:
2 Timothy 2:3  Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:12  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

1 Peter 4:12-13  Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 1:6-7  In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith- of greater weight than gold, which perishes, even though refined by fire- may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

James 1:2-4  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.