Category: Suffering

Say So

Posted on by scott

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” – Psalm 107:1-2a

Can’t I Get a Witness?

Do you find it interesting that the Psalmist, (King David), has to encourage the redeemed to testify?  It is human nature to want to discuss our problems.  “Misery loves company,” we say.  If we are having a bad day it is easy to complain.  If someone wrongs us we want to advertise it.  Why do we speak when we should be silent, and why are we silent when we should speak?  If we are so quick to bemoan trivial trials, why are we reluctant to give thanks to the LORD for His steadfast love?  In the grand scheme of things what can compare with our redemption?  Nothing.  So why don’t we take the advice of the Psalmist and say so?

Troubles

Every man is encountered with troubles.  Psalm 107 speaks of those God has redeemed from troubles or the hand of the foe (verse 2).  Verse 3 tells us that these redeemed have been gathered from the four points of the compass, “from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.”  David then proceeds to give four illustrations as if matching them with the compass points.

Exiles

Beginning with verse 4, David looks at those in exile.  Those wandering in desert wastes and finding no way to a city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty their soul fainted within them.  And then we see the beginning of a theme in this Psalm.  “They cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress”  (Verse 6).  How?  “He leads them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in” (Verse 7).  What should be the response?  “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things” (Verses 8 & 9).

Ever wandered in the desert?  Sure you have.  You are in exile now.  You may have an earthly address, but your citizenship is in Heaven.  Remember those days when you were looking for meaning?  Your soul fainted within you as you hungered and thirsted for a purpose.  Your soul wanted a home.  Your soul needed rest.  In your despair, you cried out to the Lord and He delivered you from your distress.  He revealed to you the Way and filled you with the Holy Spirit.  Now Christ has gone to prepare your home, and some day you will be brought safely to the Heavenly city where you will dwell forever with God.  What should your response be?  Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love!  In Christ has God satisfied your longing soul?  Has He filled your hungry soul with good things?  Say so.

Bondage

Beginning in verse 10, David looks at those in bondage. Those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.  Prisoners in affliction and in irons.  Their bondage a direct result of disobedience to God’s word. Like the exiles, David tells us that the prisoners cried out to the LORD in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress.  “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart” (Verse 14).  Although their trouble was different, David expects the same response, “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!  For He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron” (Verses 15 & 16).

Remember those days in spiritual prison.  I am confident you do.  Satan’s deception had you sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.  Sin’s irons held you in affliction.  Your bondage was a direct result of disobedience to God’s word.  Know a better definition of sin?  In your distress, you cried out to God and He delivered you from your distress.  The light of God’s Truth penetrated the darkness of your cell.  Satan’s deception is no match for God’s Truth.  “You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free” (John 8:32).  Like Paul and Silas, you learned that God can open any prison.  The Word of God is a spiritual earthquake that shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.  You have been set free.  What should your response be?  Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast Love!  Has the Light of the world repelled the shadow of death you were sitting in? Has the Incarnate Word freed you from sin’s irons?  Say so.

Illness

Beginning in verse 17, David looks at those suffering from illness  Because their illness is a direct result of sin, David calls them fools.  They loathe food and they are on death’s doorstep.  Once again, we are told that this group cried out to the LORD in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress.  “He sent out His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction” (verse 20).  The expectation is the same, “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!  And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His deeds in songs of joy” (Verses 21 & 22)!

You were once on your spiritual death bed.  You were born with a terminal illness.  Sin.  You too were a fool, saying in your heart there is no God.  In your pride, you loathed spiritual food.  When you were on life support, you cried out to God and He delivered you from your distress.  God inclined your heart towards His truth.  Wisdom’s seed was planted. “No God,” was replaced by the “fear of God.” God sent you bread from Heaven and you ate it.   Christ paid for your sins on the cross.  What should your response be?  Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love.  Are you satisfied with the Bread of Life?   Were you healed by Christ’s stripes?  Say so.

Overwhelmed

Beginning in verse 23, David looks at those who are overwhelmed.  Doing business on the sea, this group encounters a violent storm.  While their ship is being tossed by the waves, their courage is melting.  Although they were reeling like drunken men and were at their wits’ end, they had enough sense to cry out to God.  By now you know that God delivered them from their distress.  “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.  Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven”  (Verses 29 & 30).  You also know what is now expected of them, “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!  Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders” (Verse 31 & 32).

Remember being tossed around by life’s circumstances?  The waters were calm when the voyage began.  You were in control of the situation, or so you thought.  Then the winds began to pick up and the sky became ominous.  As the waves began to rise your self-confidence began to sink.  How quickly we learn in a storm that God is so much above us.  A few waves and we begin to reel and stagger in our self-sufficiency.  When you were at your wits’ end, you cried out to God and He delivered you from your distress.  With the command of, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39), Christ stilled the storm and hushed the waves.  The storm that scared you sunk your self-sufficiency and brought you to Christ.  When you were overwhelmed, God’s grace replaced your works.  You were glad the waters were quiet, and Christ brought your soul to your desired haven.  What should your response be?  Give thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love.  Are you relieved that Christ has replaced your storms with His peace?  Are you thankful that your sins were drowned when you embraced Christ’s grace?  Say so.

Testimonies

The day is coming when God will gather His children from every people group.  They will be gathered, “from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.”  Their testimonies will be as unique as snowflakes, and yet they will all be the same.  “They cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.”  In a very real sense, Heaven is going to be a great big “Say so” gathering!!  If you are looking forward to it, say so!

“Thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”

“Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD” (Verse 43).

Suffering

Posted on by scott

 

“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.'” – John 9:1-3

The Problem of Suffering

Today in Sunday School we discussed the problem of suffering.  If God is loving, why is there suffering?  It’s the age old question. Certainly, the sufferings of man must prove that either God is not truly a God of love, or He is impotent.  To go one step further, perhaps suffering proves that God doesn’t exist.  You have heard all of the arguments.  You have also heard the answer, suffering exists because of the fall.

Sin & Suffering

If Adam and Eve hadn’t disobeyed, we would not have suffering.  This is true.  But how about the more specific question.  Why me?  Why do I suffer and my neighbor doesn’t?  I have a healthy lifestyle.  I watch what I eat.  How did I end up with cancer when so and so who lives on fast food doesn’t?  These questions become a little more difficult to answer.  It is the question the disciples put before Jesus regarding the blind man.  They knew that there was a correlation between sin and suffering.  But is it always a direct correlation?  If not how is God being fair?

Stephen & Saul

When Stephen was stoned to death, Saul witnessed the stoning and approved of it.  Stephen didn’t question his suffering.  He used it as an opportunity to witness and he kept his focus on God.  He was rewarded with a vision of Jesus at the right hand of God.  None of his murderers saw what Stephen did.  Not even Saul.

James & Peter

When Herod decided to attack the early church he killed James.  Intending to do the same with Peter he had him put in prison. Unlike James, Peter was miraculously saved.  Despite being chained between two soldiers, an angel freed him and his life was spared.  Why?  Was this fair to James?

Peter & John

When Jesus restored Peter on the beach, He told him what kind of death he would endure.  Looking behind them Peter saw John and asked about his fate.  To which Jesus replied, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”  As history records, Peter was crucified for his Savior while John would outlive any of the other Apostles.  Fair?

Paul & His Thorn

When Saul was in the midst of persecuting the church, he encountered Jesus.  Blinded by His radiance, Saul was commissioned to take the gospel to the Gentiles once his physical and spiritual eyes were opened.  However, Paul would have to minister with a thorn in the flesh.  Despite praying for the thorn to be removed, Paul apparently carried it to his grave.   I can only think of one other person who had a more effective ministry.  Jesus.

Our Suffering Servant

Isaiah refers to our Savior as the Suffering Servant.  And so He was.  He did not suffer for His sins.  Yet his suffering was the result of sin.  Ours.  The scourging.  The mocking.  The agony in the garden.  The crown of thorns.  Slapped.  Spit upon.  Called the devil.  Called crazy.  Crucified.  Worse of all, His Heavenly Father turned away when He bore our sins.  Fair?

Suffering & Sovereignty

I believe sometimes we ask the wrong questions.  Like Peter did.  Like the disciples did.  There are things the Bible doesn’t address.  We can’t explain everything.  That would make us like God.  His ways are so much higher than ours.  We have to trust His love.  We have to bow to His sovereignty.  But for those who are suffering, it is best to dwell on what we do know.  That is where the Hope is.

Redeemed From

God is able to redeem us from our suffering.  Like Peter, He may choose to free us from the bonds.  Like the blind man, Jesus is capable of giving us sight.  God can answer prayers in the affirmative.  But He does not obligate Himself to do so.  Like Paul, we can pray for the thorn to be removed.  If it is not removed, we can echo Paul’s sentiment, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11b-13).

Redeemed In

God often chooses to redeem us in our suffering.  How many people have to hit rock bottom before they will look up?  Suffering has a way of removing pride’s blinders.  As the expression says, “it is only when we come to the end of ourselves that we come to the beginning of God.”  Pride comes before a fall.  Often, God uses a fall to bring us to Himself.  Suffering can be the most effective tool to get our attention.

Redeemed

God wants to redeem our suffering.  When people are suffering, they often blame God.  As Christians, we tend to want to play God.  Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers.  We can’t remove everyone’s pain.  Instead, we should seek the face of God.  In the midst of our suffering, we need to imitate Stephen and keep our eyes heavenward.  Instead of asking why me, we should ask, “What is it you are trying to teach me?”  “Do I have unconfessed sins?”  “How will this make me a better person?”  “How will this suffering enable me to better minister to others?”  “How will this suffering draw my closer to you?”  “How will this suffering bring You glory?”  Jesus prayed for Peter so that his ministry would be more effective after Satan sifted him.  (Luke 22:31-32)  Listen to Second Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Why You?

Why specifically are you suffering?  I don’t know.  Are you defined by your suffering?  No.  Is there hope?  Yes.  When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, they were not alone.  They were miraculously joined by one whose appearance was like “a son of the gods.”  In the midst of our pain, we can have peace.  In the midst of our suffering, the Son of God joins us.  It is wrong to assume that a God of love doesn’t allow suffering.  To the contrary, the greatest symbol of love the world has ever known is a blood stained cross.  In the midst of your suffering, cling to it.  It has a way of keeping things in perspective.

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” – Matthew 16:21

For YOU!

Fig Trees and Faith

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“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18

Hard Work & Faith

Ever since the ground was cursed by God in the Garden of Eden, man would have to eat in pain and by the sweat of his face.  Seeds would need to be sown.  Trees would need trimming.  Plants would require pruning.  Hard work is necessary, but in itself insufficient.  Faith would have to be exercised.  Human effort is no guarantee of a bountiful harvest.

Man must do what he is able, and then pray that God will bless his work.  Only He can provide sufficient rainfall.  Sunshine and temperatures are His departments.  When the seeds are planted in the ground, they are planted with hope.  When the plants are pruned they are done so with expectation.  What is true in the realm of horticulture is equally true in the realm of livestock.  Folds are made for the sheep.  Stalls are made for the cattle.  Not only must the livestock be protected, but they are nurtured from birth as well.  A lot of toil goes into feeding them and keeping them healthy.  Man must do what he is able, and then pray that God will bless his work.  One predator can wreak havoc on the flock.  One disease or catastrophe can eliminate the herd.  Then what?  What happens when expectations are not met?  What happens when hopes are crushed?  What becomes of faith?

“Though the fig tree should not blossom.”  

Despite all of our hard work, we did not get the promotion.  We looked to the fig tree for its sweet fruit.  We ended up with a sour taste in our mouth.  “Nor fruit be on the vines.”  We nurtured and loved, but our child is not living for the faith.  The fruit of the vine is supposed to bring gladness of heart, but our hearts are pierced by a wayward offspring.  “The produce of the olive fails.”  We did everything the doctor recommended, but the results came back positive.  The millstone is ready but there is no oil to cook with or light the lamps.  We hoped for an encouraging report.  The doctor says it is terminal.  “The fields yield no food.”  We planted barley and wheat.  We have a field of weeds.  We look to the fields for subsistence, our eyes behold disappointment.  Not only have we lost our health, we have lost our job.  Where will the next meal come from?  How will we make ends meet?  “The flock may be cut off from the fold.”  We prayed for a hedge of protection, but our spiritual leader fell.  We looked to the sheep for wool, instead, the wool was pulled over our eyes.  Who knew Satan could so quickly scatter the flock?  “And there be no herd in the stalls.”  We did everything we could to make the stalls.  Despite our best efforts to protect, we have buried a child.  Accidents can’t always be avoided.  We don’t have a drug for every disease.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom”…our faith can!

“In the morning, as He was returning to the city, He became hungry.  And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, He went to it and found nothing but only leaves.  And He said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’  And the fig tree withered at once.  When the disciples saw it, they marveled saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’  And Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.'” – (Matthew 21:20-22)

What did Jesus do when He encountered a fig tree without fruit?  Used it as an object lesson.  He was hungry for its fruit.  His disciples needed its seed.  The cross was on the horizon.  They were going to be separated from Jesus.  Persecution was coming.  They left everything to follow Jesus.  What would they have after His death?  A seed of faith.  With a few simple words, Jesus withered a fig tree.  With a few simple men, He would move mountains.  With the help of a barren fig tree, faith would grow.

Fig Trees and Your Faith

“Though the fig tree shall not blossom.”  With faith, barrenness can lead to growth.  With faith, bad new can result in rejoicing.  Amazing how different a barren fig tree looks when we have faith.  You can take my job.  You can take my health.  You can even take my loved ones.  But you can’t touch my faith.  You can’t take my salvation.  Our worldly expectations may not be fulfilled.  But in Jesus, we will always have hope.  A barren fig tree is no match for the Savior of our souls.  Do not despair.  Do not doubt.  Have faith.  Some day soon, all fig trees will blossom.  For all of eternity.  In heaven, expectations are exceeded.  Enjoy the sweet fruit of your faith!

“In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.” –  Zechariah 3:10

“Though the fig tree shall not blossom..Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Griefs and Sufferings

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“A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” – Isaiah 53:3a

Somber Description

“A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”  Not the words I would want on my tombstone.  Not that I want a tombstone.  Certainly an appropriate description of Job.  But this isn’t about me.  It isn’t about Job.  This is how Isaiah portrays our Savior.  Part of his theme of the Suffering Servant.  But this isn’t a reflection of Jesus’ disposition or character.  He is not painting Him as a melancholy person or a man “down on his luck”. Rather, Isaiah continues to show our Savior in the light of a servant.  Look at what he says in verse 4.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”  That is quite a picture.  The source of His griefs and sorrows is not internal but external. When Isaiah tells us that the Suffering Servant is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, he is not criticizing an internal flaw but rather exalting a vicarious or selfless nature.  Unfortunately, the world doesn’t recognize this. Rather, Isaiah tells us, “He was despised and rejected by men.”  Now that is a reason to be sorrowful!

Bearing our Burdens

Who doesn’t have sorrows?  Who doesn’t have griefs?  When weighed down by problems who doesn’t want a place to run to for relief?  Maybe a shoulder to cry on?  How much better, a friend to bear our sorrows and carry our griefs?  Or how about taking them to a God who cares?  Sound too good to be true?  Test Him.  This Man that men deemed to be weak can bear anything we take to Him.

Maybe you have lost a parent, spouse or child.  Perhaps you have lost a job.  Maybe your reputation has been tarnished.  Possibly even undeservedly.  Maybe your marriage is on the rocks.  Perhaps it was shipwrecked long ago.  If you’re not grieving a lost loved one maybe you are grieving a lost relationship.  A best friend has become a bitter enemy.  The child you nurtured will no longer speak to you.  Could be your sorrows stem from financial concerns.   Maybe you have lost your home.  Perhaps your retirement has been wiped out.  A savings nest has been depleted by an unexpected expense.  If we are following Job’s list, perhaps your burden is health related.  Cancer.  Heart condition.  Blood sugar.  Blood pressure.  Infertility.  Emotional stress.  Maybe you’re grieving over something you have said or done to someone.  Maybe you’re grieving over something someone said or did to you.  The source of your sorrows and griefs isn’t the issue here. The sources are infinite.  The issue is the only solution. Our suffering Servant.

Sin’s Children

When Jesus carried the cross to Calvary, He not only bore our sins, He also bore sin’s consequences.  Such are sorrows and griefs. They are sin’s children.  Jesus not only carried them on His back, He covered them with His blood.  The world may despise and reject Him, but He wants us to come to Him.  Just as we are.  That is why He came to us.  On His heavenly throne, He would never be described as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  But He left Heaven because we needed Him.  He left Heaven because He loves us.  “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Wow.  Come to me.  Exchange your heavy burden for rest.  How?  He is going to bear your heavy burden.  We just need to go to Him and let go.  The troubles won’t necessarily disappear, but they will become much lighter as Jesus carries the weight.  “Take My yoke upon, you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  (Matthew 11:29)  Our Savior has taken on flesh and blood.  He has stooped to our level, so He can get under our sorrows and griefs and bear them for us.

“A man of sorrows acquainted with griefs.”  What a Servant.  “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows”.  What a Savior.  “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).  What a promise!

Fasting and Weeping…That the Child Might Live

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“While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me that the child may live?'” – 2 Samuel 12:22

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Hope

The last couple of blogs we looked at faith and love through the experiences of infertility and disability.  Today we will talk about hope through the experience of death.  Infertility can be a lonely experience.  Having a child with Down’s Syndrome a “shock”.  But words can’t describe the pain of losing a child.  It is the darkest and deepest valley.   At such a time sympathy is irrelevant.  Only Truth will help you through.

As I mentioned previously, after struggling with infertility God decided to bless us with three daughters and a son, albeit spaced rather far apart.  Around the time of our twenty-fifth anniversary, God decided to surprise us one more time.  Our daughters had started to pressure us to adopt thinking we were too old to have any more children.  Despite approaching the “Abraham and Sarah” age group, according to some, we were excited.  How soon the excitement would give way to concern.  Roughly twenty-two weeks into the pregnancy there were complications.  At about the twenty-four-week mark our fifth child was born very prematurely.  A fourth daughter we named Brooke.  Brooke tipped the scales at 1 pound and eight ounces.  What a journey this little blessing was going to take us on.

For years we prayed that God would bless us with children.  The fervency of those prayers couldn’t match the desperation of the prayers we cried asking God to spare our child.  Brooke’s little body was so underdeveloped internally that every day seemed to bring a new trial.  Her health was so delicate that we could not hold her.  To do so might endanger her life.  If holding our daughter meant conceding, we chose to simply to look and “touch” through the little plastic “box”.  Certainly not the way God “wires” us to nurture newborns but what else could we do?  Like David, we could keep praying that our child might live.

We not only prayed, we held on to hope.

For every step forward, there seemed to be two back.  Every encouraging sign seemed to be followed by a string of bad news, but like Abraham, “in hope, we believed against hope.”  After all, we were once told we would probably never have children, and Brooke was now our fifth.  We didn’t want to be naive, but we didn’t want to give up either.  If only Brooke could communicate with us.  If only God would give us clear direction.  Were we fighting for the sanctity of life or were we being selfish?  If dying is gain, what were we afraid of?  How hard should we “push” our little girl?

Holding on to let go.

The day of reckoning finally came.  It was a Friday, but not a good one.  Much of the NICU staff asked for a special meeting with my wife and I.  In no uncertain terms they told us they had never seen a baby survive with the statistics/vitals that Brooke had.  According to them, Brooke was artificially kept alive by the ventilator.  The time to concede had come.  If the end was near, we could at least look forward to finally holding our daughter.  How can we let go of that which we haven’t held?  As much as I was anticipating holding her, deciding when to actually “Pull the plug” was a different story.  Both would be emotionally charged.

The next day, arrangements were made for our immediate family to spend many hours in a private room with Brooke.  I melted when I held her for the first time.  But it didn’t compare with the privilege of seeing my wife hold Brooke.  I am not sure there is anything more unnatural than for a mother not being able to hold her newborn child.  After waiting for thirty-six days to witness it, I was greatly relieved.  We were light years removed from her cry, “I just want to be a mother so bad.”  Even though we knew the time was short, it was beautiful.  Brooke’s sisters couldn’t wait to lavish her with affection.  They too had pent up love to express.  It was a memorable day, to say the least.  Brooke’s nurse told us it was a miracle.  According to her, there was no way Brooke should have been as alert as she seemed to be.  Perhaps she was starving for the love she was finally receiving through meaningful contact.

Sunday.  Resurrection day.

Now it was time for the extended families to meet their cousin/niece for the first and last time.  As you might imagine it was very emotional.  Not the way things are supposed to work in a perfect world.  But these things happen in the world we live in. The mood was somber.  What can really be said?  When everyone finally left, God “spoke” through Brooke. As I was holding her in my arms she opened her little eyes.  As her eyes met mine she lifted her arm and literally pushed the tube out of her mouth.  In her condition, she wasn’t supposed to have the strength.  In our condition, we didn’t.  She was ready to go home.  I immediately got up and placed her in my wife’s arms.  That is where I wanted her to pass.  Where else did Brooke belong?  Brooke was not only in her mother’s arms for her last earthly breath, she was also in the arms of her Heavenly Father. He held her every day of her life, even when we couldn’t.  He gives us a peace words can’t describe.

“But now he is dead.  Why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” – 2 Samuel 12:23

Although Brooke never made it home alive, her grave-site is visible from our house.  Some day Caleb, my wife and I will be buried next to her.  Our bodies will be buried, but not our hope.  With Brooke’ death, David’s prayer gave way to David’s hope. We can’t bring Brooke back, but we shall go to her. There is no greater hope than that of the Christian resurrection.  Even in our darkest valley, Truth was at our side every step of the way.  Every time we felt we couldn’t take another step, He would extend His nail scarred hand.  The hand He offered was Hope.  We will hold it until our family is reunited in Heaven.  There faith will become sight.  Hope will spread it’s wings as enjoyment, and love will be made perfect.  No need to fast and weep, God is gracious.  Our daughter lives.  I can’t wait to look her in the eye again, embrace her, and lavish her with love.  What could be more natural in a perfect world?

Walking Through the Valley

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“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4

Walking through the valley.

Familiar words to Christians and non-Christians.  Words we often hear at a funeral.  Henceforth, we associate these words with death and trials.  But don’t we walk through the valley every day?  Therefore, shouldn’t we be comforted by these words on a daily basis?

The literal thought is walking through a dark valley.  Sounds like every man’s journey since the Fall.  Because of their disobedience, God banned Adam and Eve from the Garden.  To prevent any attempt of return, God placed a barrier in the form of cherubim and a flaming sword.  With the Garden of Eden at their backs, our spiritual parents began their walk in the valley of darkness.   Walking with God in the Garden one day, driven out of the Garden by God the next.  Conversing with God one day, curses the next.  A heavy price to pay for wanting to be like God.  Such is the cost of the pride of man.

The shadow of death.

Since sin has entered into the world, the world has been characterized by darkness and death.  The tempter, Satan, is now referred to as the god of this world, and he wants us to live in fear.  Such is the shadow cast by sin.  We never know what awaits us in the shadows.  We never know what dangers are lurking in the darkness.  The fear of the unknown is a constant companion in the darkness.  But we have a greater companion.

You are with me.  

Adam and Eve could not re-enter the Garden, so God joins us in the valley.  In the darkness, the Light of the world is our ever present help.  We take comfort in His rod and staff.  Jesus is not only our companion, He is our protector.  There is nothing hiding in the shadows that He can’t protect us from.  We will fear no evil because of the Cross.  No shepherd ever wielded a more potent rod.

Even though.

The walk in the valley is inevitable.  Such is the consequence of being a descendant of Adam and Eve.  Walking alone is optional.  Jesus only accompanies His own.  He is only a Shepherd to His Sheep.  He doesn’t want you to walk through the valley of darkness alone fearing evil.  He laid down His life so you won’t have to.  A heavy price to pay for becoming a man.  Such is the cost of the humility of God.

Via Dolorosa.  The way of grief.  The valley of darkness Jesus walked carrying the cross.  The Via Dolorosa begins near the Lions Gate and ends at Golgotha.  Others have walked the way of grief, only Jesus did it for others.  Betrayed.  Abandoned.  Jesus walked the valley alone with sin’s shadow pressing down on Him in the form of a cross.  Not His cross, but ours.  The Shepherd walked the way to make a way.  He walked the valley to lay down His life for us.  He walked the way of grief alone, so we wouldn’t have to walk through the valley alone.  Jesus is more than qualified to guide us through the valley.  He has not only “blazed” the trail through the valley of darkness, He has also passed through the heavens.  For others that walked the way of grief, the journey ended at Golgotha, but not for Jesus.  If His walk ended at the cross, we would have no comfort in the valley.  Instead, our confidence is at the right hand of the Father.

“Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” – Hebrews 4:14

Jesus escorts us through the valley because He wants us to arrive home safely.  Some day, the darkness of the valley will give way to the light of Heaven.  Instead of a barrier of cherubim and a flaming sword, we will be welcomed by the angels and open arms. As you walk through the valley, don’t fear the shadows, enjoy the light. Some day you will be overwhelmed by its brightness.  Jesus is walking by your side in the valley of darkness so you can stand before the face of God in Heaven.  Jesus walked the way of grief, so we can live in perfect Joy.

“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him.  They will see His face..” – Revelation 22:3-4a

Heaven has a way of keeping the valley in perspective.

I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me.  Always.  A Truth we can take comfort in every step of every day.

In the Furnace of Affliction

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“For My name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of My praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.  Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.  For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it, for how should My name be profaned?  My glory I will not give to another.” – Isaiah 48:9-11

Feeling the Heat

Although the nation of Israel is God’s chosen people, they are not immune from trying times.  In today’s text we see God “trying” them in the furnace of affliction.  Apparently, the apple of God’s eye was testing His patience.  Rather than eliminating them God decides to refine them.  However, this is not new.  Israel has gone from the “iron furnace” (Deut. 4:20) of Egypt into the furnace of affliction (Babylonian captivity).  Looks like the proverbial “Out of the frying pan into the fire.”  Feeling the heat?  Perhaps you are being tried in the furnace.  Israel wasn’t exempt and neither is the Church.  Why?  Because He loves us and is jealous for His name.

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him.  For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” – Hebrews 12:5b-6.

Furnace of Affliction

Why the furnace?  Why the heat?  It purifies.  Precious metals mined from the earth are fraught with impurities in their natural state.  Extracting the metals from the earth is not enough.  The “earth” needs to be extracted from the metals.  They need to be purified.  To be purified they must be subjected to heat.  Hence the furnace. Once heated, the impurities (dross) rise to the top and the refiner scrapes it off.  The refiner adjusts the heat and skims the dross until he sees his reflection.  The purer the metal, the clearer the reflection.  Quite a spiritual picture.

Our Heavenly refiner does the same to us.  He separates us from the world and refines us.  “For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried” (Psalm 66:10).

Removing the world from us is not pleasant, but it is necessary.  Like precious metals we need to be proved and improved.  By removing our impurities God makes us useful vessels fit for His service.  James tells us that the testing of our faith makes us “perfect and complete“.  In other words, like Christ.  And Christ knew something about the furnace.

“But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” – Daniel 3:25

Are you currently in the furnace?  You are not alone.  Even in the heat of the furnace we can cling to the promise, “”I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b).

Think you can’t endure the heat?  Think again.  “No temptation (testing) has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond your ability, but with the temptation (testing) He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Is the suffering worth the price?  Absolutely.  “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

The furnace can be a difficult place to be, but it can also be the place of the sweetest communion with God.  The greater the heat, the less we are attached to the world and the keener our spiritual insight.  As God is adjusting the heat and skimming off the dross look for His face.  That is what He wants to see reflected in you.  That is why He refines you.

“Prove me, O lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.” – Psalm 26:2

Chemo and the Gates of Hell

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Cancer & Chemo

Today I am writing from a Cancer Center. My mother is going through her first round of chemotherapy.  One week ago today she was told she has stage four cancer.  The doctors told her she had two options, chemo or hospice.  Although she immediately chose chemo, until today it has felt like we were exercising a third option; kicking the can down the road.  Scan this. Biopsy that. Test this. Retest that.  Hurry up and wait for the results.  Are we on the front line or the sideline?

I realize in any battle it is important to properly identify the enemy and lay out a strategy.  I am not trying to minimize these things.  It’s just so hard to be patient when the enemy is active.  We have heard the cancer roar.  We know where he is located.  Today we are finally going on the offensive.  No more kicking the can down the road, it’s time to fight the enemy before us.  Or in this case the enemy within.

Christian Warfare

My mother’s battle is a good illustration of Christian warfare.  We too have an aggressive enemy.  1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be sober minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  Too often, to our shame, when Satan roars we cower.  But why?

Satan’s great weapon is deceit.  God equips us with Truth.  Satan disables us with fear.  God enables us with Love.  Satan tells us we cannot win.  Calvary tells us we already have.  Satan wants us on the sidelines.  God has placed us on the front line.

“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18b

Charge!

If the gates of hell shall not prevail, the Church is attacking!!  Hospice and procrastination are not options for the Christian.  We were saved for action.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over  this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” – Ephesians 6:10-13

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.'” – Matthew 28:18-20

The enemy has been identified.  The command has been given.  What are we waiting for?  The consequences of inactivity are too great.  It’s time to storm the gates of Hell.

Why Songs in the Night?

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Sparks

In the midst of some less than desirable advice, Elihu rebukes Job with these words “Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.  But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night..'” (Job 35:9-10).  Although the trials of Job are legendary, they are not exclusive.  Job 5:7 tells us that, “man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”  Every man will face his “night”.  The question is how will he respond, hence Elihu’s rebuke and challenge.

Night

This week my mother was diagnosed with cancer.  Although we do not have all of the test results and do not know how far the cancer has spread, we do know that our world has been “rocked”.  In the daylight, we like to deceive ourselves with thoughts of autonomy.  Our pride fills us with the foolish notion that we are the captain of our ship and can navigate our course, and then…

Then comes a dose of reality.  We are created from dust and to dust we will return.  Every illness; every catastrophe; every battle; every loss of a loved one reminds us how impotent we are.  The challenge is where do we turn for help?  To whom do we look for answers?  What is the source of our strength?  I am taking Elihu’s advice over that of Job’s wife who told Job to, “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9b).

Songs

In the 77th Psalm, Asaph said, “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.  In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord..” (vs. 1-2a).  In the 6th verse, he says, “Let me remember my song in the night..”

My prayer is that this blog will inspire you to walk with God every day.  If you are walking with Him in the daylight, there will be no need to turn to Him in the night.  If we make a practice of humbling ourselves every day in the presence of God (Coram Deo), we won’t have so far to fall when “night” comes.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8