Gerald Sittser, a devout Christian, was enjoying a family
trip when a car driven by a drunk came around a curve. In a moment, he lost his
mother, his wife, and his daughter. Out of
his anguish, he wrote A
Grace Disguised, How the Soul Grows Through Loss. He did not pretend that his loss was without
pain. He did not indulge himself in sin to avoid the sadness. He endured it,
carried the crushing burden, and from his searing experience shares this; “The
soul is elastic, like a balloon. It can grow larger through suffering. Loss can
enlarge its capacity for anger, depression, despair, and anguish, all natural
and legitimate emotions whenever we experience loss. Once enlarged, the soul is
also capable of experiencing greater joy, strength, peace, and love. What we
consider opposites—east and water, night and light, sorrow and joy, weakness
and strength, anger and love, despair and hope, death and life—are no more
mutually exclusive than winter and sunlight. The soul has the capacity to
experience these opposites, even at the same time.”
The belief that those who are good Christians can live in
perpetual happiness, always serene, never uncertain, is common and persistent.
Somehow the promise of the joy of the Lord gets turned into an expectation that
those of deep faith will avoid life’s trials. When that false hope merges with an
experience of deep sorrow, a person
compounds his pain with unnecessary feelings of guilt or failure. Let me state it plainly here: Real Christians
go through dark valleys! The great
tragedy is that many Christians prefer a superficial faith and will do almost
anything to avoid hard things, to go around rather than through experiences
that can make God their treasure.
David endured much sorrow as he walked out God’s plan for
his life. He lived for nearly 20 years in the shadow of King Saul’s jealousy.
He had to deal with threats of death, irrationality, and isolation. Even David’s
friends questioned his faith! Was it
easy for him? You judge as you read his song. “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look
the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in
my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer
me, O Lord my God! Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die. Don’t let my
enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my
downfall." (Psalm 13:1-4, NLT) He longed for relief, but trusted God through it all!
This Passion Week we must remember that our Lord chose to go to the Cross. He was not
forced. He willingly submitted Himself to the plans of the Father, enduring
great sorrow and pain in the process. In
the garden, as he prayed, the Gospels say that He was in anguish! “Father,
if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in
anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood
falling to the ground." (Luke 22:42-44, NIV) The way to His highest purpose and greatest
glory was through terrible suffering. We
should not expect a different way. "Your attitude should be the same as that
of Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:5, NIV) "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and
became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8,
NIV) "Therefore God exalted him to
the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."
(Philippians 2:9-10, NIV)
Please do not wrongly conclude that you must seek out
suffering, that you must work at causing yourself pain. The Word does not
encourage misery for its own sake. Ascetism (denying one’s self pleasure or comfort)
can be just religiosity, a vain attempt to earn God’s favor or impress other
people. The road to Glory, to an ‘enlarged soul,’ is one where we are led
by the Spirit and should He choose to lead us along a darkened pathway, let’s
walk it out with faith, authentically entering into the suffering and taking
the grace offered by the Spirit in that moment.
Here are words from the Word. "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a
lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the
morning." (Psalm 30:5, NIV) "Blessed
are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude
you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven.
" (Luke 6:21-23, NKJV)
_________
My Life Is In Your Hands
You don't have to
worry
And don't you be
afraid
Joy comes in the
morning
Troubles they don't
last always
For there's a friend
named Jesus
Who will wipe your
tears away
And if your heart is
broken
Just lift your hands
and say
(Oh) I know that I can
make it
I know that I can
stand
No matter what may
come my way
My life is in Your
hands
With Jesus I can take
it
With Him I know I can
stand
No matter what may
come my way
My life is in Your
hands
So when your tests and
trials
They seem to get you
down
And all your friends
and loved ones
Are nowhere to be
found
Remember there's a friend
named Jesus
Who will wipe your
tears away
And if your heart is
broken
Just lift your hands
and say
My life is in Your
hands
My life is in Your
hands
My life is in Your
hands
Kirk Franklin
© 1996 Lilly Mack Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music
Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
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