…what shall I say? "Father, save Me from this hour"? But for this purpose I came to this hour. "Father, glorify Your name." —John 12:27-28
"As a saint of God, my attitude toward sorrow and difficulty should not be to ask that they be prevented, but to ask that God protect me so that I may remain what He created me to be, in spite of all my fires of sorrow. You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find that he has plenty of time for you. […] If you will receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people." - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
I do not find it strange but marvelous that I can have a discussion, or some event will occur in my life, and the very next morning the Word or a devotion will address what happened only yesterday. I know a number of people that I care deeply for that are in the midst of sorrow. I have been thinking about how people respond to sorrow, and what, if any, good can come from it. Sorrow in this life is unavoidable. The question is not how to avoid it, but how to endure it, to persevere.
For the most part, people focus on the here and now – their mortal lives and put everything that happens in that context. Their natural life has primacy over any and all other considerations. What happens to them, or doesn’t, in their natural life shapes their attitude toward others and their confidence in themselves.
The thing is … that is not the right view of life. Of course, for those who are not “born again by the Spirit” they have no choice really in how they respond. They must trust in mere mortals for help. But, for those who have been “born again” there is another road to be taken.
There are really two aspects to the sorrows we face in this life. First – what you should do when it happens to you. Because it is sure to come your way. Second – what you should do when it happens to others. When it does happen to Christians - The Apostle Paul wrote -
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoicing always – not being anxious – experiencing a peace that transcends human understanding – peace in the midst of turmoil – peace that has a supernatural root – born out faith and experienced by the power of the Spirit that rests in the heart of every Christian. It is God’s intent that we, as Christians, would have these abilities – that the fruit – the result of living a life submitted to the Spirit of God – would be evidenced in our lives no matter what happens in our lives. What is out of the reach for the natural man is fully within the grasp of the “super-natural” man. The man or woman who is saved by the sacrifice of Jesus through faith and trusts in the Lord as a way of life – their new life.
So what do you do with all of that pain and hurt that life brings your way? Pastor Rick Warren said “God never wastes a hurt” Paul also wrote –
"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. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Just as God provided strength to endure and overcome, He expects us, and has equipped us, to embrace the comfort we found in Him and use it to encourage others. Not to “fix” them, but to love them. Experiencing hardship increases my compassion for others. I don’t seek hardships and disappointments out .. they will surely find me. But I don’t have to let them break me. Not with God on my side. And neither do you my friend.
"I am pressed but not crushed, Persecuted not abandoned. Struck down but not destroyed. I am blessed beyond the curse. For His promise will endure . That His joy's gonna be my strength. Though the sorrow may last for the night His joy comes with the morning." Trading My Sorrows, Darrel Evans
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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