When Trials Come
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Kristyn Getty
When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there His faithfulness is told
And there His faithfulness is told
Within the night I know Your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow
As treasures of the darkness grow
I turn to Wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known
My confidence will rest in You
Your love endures Your ways are good
Your love endures Your ways are good
When I am weary with the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in its shadow I shall run
Till He completes the work begun
Till He completes the work begun
One day all things will be made new
I’ll see the hope You called me to
And in your kingdom paved with gold
I’ll praise Your faithfulness of old
I’ll praise Your faithfulness of old
As I listened to the lyrics of this song in the car Thursday morning on my way to the pediatrician’s office I heard them with my heart as I never had before.
We’ve had a bit of a rough week. The situation is best left imprecise in this context, but I will characterize it as a potentially severe disappointment of what we thought was to be the fulfillment of a long-cherished hope. The effects of this impending setback will include much work that will need to be un- or re-done, an overhaul of our fall schedule, possible continued health problems, and the surrender of a happy dream. Like I said, it’s been a rough week.
Wednesday night I was overcome with discouragement. A minor irritation became a major source of frustration as I viewed it through the dark lens of our sad news. The more I wondered “
why?,” the more discouraged I became. I began to think not only about our own (relatively minor) sufferings, but all the pain and suffering we’ve encountered this year. I thought about my friend Becky who lost her dad to suicide just after Christmas. I thought about another friend, also Becky, who completely unexpectedly lost her husband in March and is now the single-mom of 3 young children. I thought about Mary who survived breast cancer only to have her house burn to the ground a few years later. And others—friends who have had miscarriages, friends who have lost jobs in which they have served faithfully for years, friends who have been unjustly accused and endured the ill-effects of something they didn’t do, friends who suffer quietly day by day as they live with major medical conditions. All these people love God. Every single one is a shining example of Christ’s love to the world around her (or him). To my knowledge the suffering they have endured is not of a disciplinary nature. I quickly became overwhelmed with the crushing question: “
WHY?”
I knew there must be an answer, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was. I flipped on the light and opened my Bible, hardly knowing what I was even looking for. I settled in Romans, chapter 5 where I began to just fill my crushed soul with the refreshing water of truth. I read and read, one chapter leading to another where a thought would send me searching somewhere else. Here is what I found:
1. Suffering reminds us who we are & Who God is.
I like to think I’m in control of many things. Or if I’m not in control, I want to be. Suffering forces me to acknowledge that, in fact, I have no “say so” except that which God allows. What appears to me to be a situation that worked out the way I wanted it to is always and only the loving blessing of God in my life. And if that blessing is removed from my life tomorrow my Father is still loving and faithful and will continue to provide everything I need, exactly when I need it.
“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonored use?” Romans 9:20-21
“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21b
2. Suffering forces us to acknowledge God’s power and depend on God’s provision. (Suffering gives us a greater opportunity to entrust ourselves to God.)
When I am in the comfortable groove of everyday living I tend to act as if “I’ve got this one covered.” Taken to the practical level, it is often as if I’m saying, “Thanks for getting me started, God. I’ll take it from here.” I assume everything will continue on its natural trajectory and in such thinking I tend to forget from Whom the abundant provision for my blessed life comes. When that comfortable plan is thrown off-track it reminds me that the comfort of God’s grace and the knowledge that He will meet every need is far superior to my paltry plans.
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12.8-10
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
3. Suffering refines our faith as fire refines gold.
I have heard the analogy of the refiners fire so often that I, at first glance, I can hardly identify what it means anymore. This week I have considered afresh the meaning of this word picture. A precious metal is made, by fire, more pure and valuable. As the impurities are burned away the integrity and quality of the metal is increased. This really is a beautiful image for suffering. As much as I wish to be taken out of the fire, to just have things be comfortable and easy for a little while, it is a beautiful and comforting thought that suffering and trials are burning away the impurities of my heart so that what is left will be stronger and more pure, to the praise of God.
“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.” I Peter 1:6-7
4. Suffering produces, in our lives, a picture of the gospel.
A clay jar was, in the ancient world, quite a common vessel, put to use in a variety of everyday contexts. There was nothing very spectacular about a clay jar. The Scripture says my life is a clay jar into which God has poured a precious treasure: the hope of salvation. When my life is going according to that comfortable plan I mentioned it can easily begin to appear (to others and to myself) as if the value is in the vessel. But when the exterior begins to crack, or even shatters completely, it reminds me that I am worthless on my own; it is only the life of Jesus, manifested in me that gives my life true value and meaning. On my own I was a sinner, unable to come to my Holy Maker, but because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for MY sins, I can come to God as a pure and spotless daughter.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10
5. Suffering is a means by which we have the opportunity to draw others to God.
The ultimate suffering, of course, was endured by Jesus as he took on every sin of every sinner who ever lived in the whole world and paid the price for that which He did not do. In this suffering He made it possible for you and I to be forgiven by God and for that relationship between Creator and creation to be made right. As I face difficulties I have the choice to follow the example of Jesus by walking the hard road of trusting God in the midst of the pain. By this I may have an opportunity to encourage someone else to turn to my loving God to walk with them through their own suffering.
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” I Peter 2:21-24
6. Suffering provides us with unique opportunities to develop godly character.
"He found him [Jacob, Israel] in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the LORD alone guided him, no foreign god was with him. He made him ride on the high places of the land, and he ate the produce of the field, and he suckled him with honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock.” Deuteronomy 32:10-13
There are many references in Scripture to the wilderness. Interestingly, it not only represents a time of hardship and suffering, but many times the desert is also a place of spiritual sanctuary, a place where God cares especially tenderly for his precious children. As I wrestle and struggle under the loving watch-care of my Father I have the opportunity to allow the pain to strengthen my character, much as the physical pain of athletic training builds up muscle. God allows suffering in my life to help me develop the godly character I long to possess.
“…we rejoice in our sufferings , knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
7. Suffering brings with it a unique blessing, when we endure the suffering in a godly way.
Sometimes I find myself clinging to the false idea that those who serve God faithfully shouldn’t have to suffer. For example, since we’ve already sacrificed the last 10 years of our life to the completion of seminary so that Seth can serve God in the teaching capacity to which he has been called I find myself believing we should be exempt from further life complications. When I admit to this mindset I realize how laughable it is. Of course faithfulness doesn’t exempt us from further suffering—you can open to nearly any book of the Bible to find ample proof of that! Still, God notices the quantity of our sufferings. He allows some of His children to suffer more than others (and I fully realize that many have suffered far more than we have), but those to whom this hard calling is assigned will also receive a unique blessing. All will eventually be made right by a just God who loves His children.
“For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.” I Peter 2:19-20
“But even if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.” I Peter 3:14a
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted…. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:4, 10
8. Suffering teaches us to live no longer for human passions, but for the will of God.
Somehow in the times when I grasp, even for a few moments, what is truly and eternally important, the “stuff” of life just doesn’t matter that much. It’s not easy to keep in perspective how temporary and fleeting my small life really is, but suffering reminds me to line up my priorities with that which truly matters, sometimes by depriving me of my agenda.
“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” I Peter 4:1-2
9. Suffering causes us to ask God for good gifts, which He wants to give us.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32
Because of the nature of our current difficulty, I have had to remind myself that God will provide, in His timing and way, the good things we are asking of Him. I have heard many say that God cares about our holiness far more than He cares about our happiness. I think this is a biblical statement. However, I think I can sometimes take that to mean that God doesn’t care at all about those things that would fall more under the “happiness umbrella.” This is a false belief about the nature of God’s love for me. As a parent I don’t always make decisions based on what will make my children happiest—if I did they would do nothing but watch movies all day long and their diet would consist of about 4 foods, which they would consume in large quantities for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. BUT, that doesn’t mean I don’t love to make them happy. If I have to choose something hard because it is best for them, I will do it, but if I can give them something pleasant without harming them body or soul, I will do it because I love them.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:7-11
10. Suffering is worth the privilege of knowing Christ Jesus, our Lord.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” I Peter 4:12-14
These 10 reasons help to answer my difficult question: “Why does God allow Christians to endure so much suffering?” As I finished reading in the pages of I Peter however, I was challenged to respond, not by endlessly searching to answer my
why? questions, but by faithfully trusting my loving Father and continuing to obey Him daily.
“Therefore, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” I Peter 4:19
Finally, I was encouraged to remember the result of submitting to God’s perfect plan for my life, even when it hurts:
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” I Peter 5:6-10
Buried somewhere in the mountains of boxes were 5 small boxes containing all the books and supplies I have been carefully collecting all summer to start homeschooling Benjamin this fall. Originally I planned to start school on the 16th of August, giving us plenty of room in our school schedule for trips, holidays, and other family events. When we made plans to move at the end of August I planned to postpone our start date. With our move now tentatively scheduled for the end of September/beginning of October, I knew we should go ahead and get started with school, but that was easier planned than executed.
First, we HAD to get our life back to some semblance of normality. We couldn't even move with all those towers of boxes taking up significant portions of our already minuscule living room and bedroom, not to mention the general atmosphere of upheaval that was cluttering our minds as much as our home. So Seth and I spent yesterday afternoon moving all our packed boxes along with a couple of empty bookshelves to a storage unit. Seth stripped down our family mini-van and converted it into a cargo vehicle deluxe. While he drove loads of boxes to storage I went to work filling our empty shelves and closets with packing materials and empty boxes. The result of this effort was a delightfully clean and clear living space after a month of mess. Ahh!
This morning the kids woke up and immediately remembered that today was an exciting day. As I've said before, they normally read books until I come to get them up, but this morning they both emerged, tousle-headed and sleepy-eyed with a look of anticipation reminiscent of Christmas morning. They explored their new tot sized space, standing anxiously near their pretty new table, but not daring to sit down. They opened the pencil box filled with new crayons, scissors, glue sticks, pencils, and miscellaneous other thrilling treasures. They examined the slate and chalk. I pointed out that there was an envelope on the table. "What does it say?," I asked as Benjamin looked down at it. A big grin spread over his still-sleepy face, "It says Benjamin Riley!" He opened the card from his Daddy and Mama with all the pride of a very big boy. Hungry to take on the new-felt mantle of responsibility, he raced off to his room to get dressed, his sister following close behind him.
We did have a little incident with those scissors.... Today was essentially the first time Benj had ever used scissors. For one thing he doesn't have a lot of strength in his hands and previous attempts have been frustrating for both of us. Another factor has been that Talia, while feeling like she can do everything Benj can do, truthfully sometimes lacks the maturity necessary to accomplish certain tasks (like weilding a pair of scissors--yikes!) So we sat down to do our first "real" (in Benj's opinion) school activity, making an "F" sheet to kick off our introduction to the letter of the week. In retrospect I'm not sure why, but I expected Talia to get bored fairly quickly and scamper off to play. She sat down, just as attentive as Benj, fully expecting to participate in this highly exciting activity. I quickly hunted down an extra pair of safety scissors and a spare glue stick (which, thankfully, weren't packed) and we commenced cutting and gluing magazine clippings of faces, frogs, fruit, and flowers to blank sheets of white paper. Somewhere in the middle of all the cutting and helping and "oh no! I put the glue on the wrong side!," Benjamin managed to cut 3 small but prominent holes in the tummy area of his polo shirt. Oops! Note to self: further instruction in cutting is clearly needed (preferably while Talia is napping).
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