In yesterday’s devotion we shared three observations on why we shouldn’t be disappointed with God even when life seems unfair or when tragedy strikes. Today I would like to share three more thoughts on this important topic.
Observation 4 – But where is God in our emotional pain?
As humans we are wired to feel emotional pain when we go through trials and tragedies. I know in my own life when I went through 18 months of severe clinical depression almost 18 years ago, my emotions went through an amazing amount of severe lows. I prayed for healing but for months and months it was as if God was totally silent to my pleas for healing. Never once did I blame God for my depression but I must admit there were times when I told God that if I didn’t recover He might want to take me to be with Him.
One of the great lessons God taught me during my depression was not to confuse life with God. While life often isn’t fair God always is. I felt free to curse the inequities of life, like my depression, but not God, because I knew that He felt my emotional pain right alongside of me because His very Holy Spirit lives inside of me. So, when I was grieving I knew that Christ was grieving with me. So, where is God in our emotional pain – He is right there with me. Over the years since I received my healing through the right medications, I have been able to counsel many people with depression. Once again God taught me valuable lessons through this very dark time in my life.
Observation 5 – Suffering is a necessary part of being a Christian
The Psalmist once remarked: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.” (Psalm 119:71). For the Christian our sincere desire should be to learn God’s word and become more conformed to the likeness of Christ. In order to do this, we must realize that trials and tragedies are part of the package of being a Christian. Even Jesus learned obedience through the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). It is so important to realize that suffering is a necessary part in the life of a Christian, so when it comes we will not get disappointed at God but draw closer to Him – for the strength, that only He can provide, to help us deal with these unpleasant trials. We can either embrace our trials and grow from them or complain to God and become disappointed in Him.
Observation 6 – Tragedy or Triumph – Jesus’ death on the cross
When Jesus died on the cross His disciples were more than disappointed – they were absolutely crushed. They had hoped and believed that Jesus was the Messiah but what good was a dead Messiah? Little did they realize or expect that on Easter Sunday the very worst thing that could happen, His death on the cross, would be turned into the very best thing that could happen – His resurrection from the dead and their salvation! And I believe that when we trust Jesus today, we can truly find rest for our souls, no matter what trials we face or sufferings we have to endure.
Remember that peace, joy, and rest are by-products of knowing who we are in Christ. We can know in advance that suffering for obedience to Christ will often come our way, but that God will always turn it around into a blessing – even if we can’t understand or see the blessing now. The key is to walk by faith and not by sight and to stand on the word of God. I leave you with three Scripture verses to meditate on that have helped me immensely to trust God to always be faithful:
When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery Joseph didn’t get bitter but concluded: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20).
When the Apostle Paul reflected on all the sufferings he and other Christians had to endure he exclaimed: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18).
And finally, we read: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12).