My wife Laura shared an observation with me yesterday I thought was profound. She related how common it is when we hear someone is going through a hard time to instinctively pray for the trial to be over immediately and miraculously, for healing, for an easy escape from the difficulty - not considering the circumstances could be divinely ordained to accomplish God's purpose we do not comprehend. I have found this to be true in my own experience. It is easy for compassion to regress to mere human pity and we pray for a swift and preferably painless conclusion. We can pray according to the direction of men rather than seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit. Should God employ hard times to work wonders in the lives of people, should we pray against that?
After turning these thoughts over in my mind, my evening Bible reading echoed what Laura had said. Written by Asaph, Psalm 83 addressed God concerning those who opposed Him and His people as enemies. See what he prayed in Psalm 83:13-16: "O my God, make them like the whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind! 14 As the fire burns the woods, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, 15 so pursue them with Your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD." For those who stubbornly hate God and refuse to hear His Word, God uses the fire of affliction, the tempest of trials, fearful uncertainty, and deep feelings of shame to cause people to seek Him. If they will not pursue God, He can use even the fiercest storms to draw them to Himself that they might be saved. It is one thing to ask God blow His enemies away and consume them with fire, but Asaph rightly sought this ultimately for God's glory - that people would seek God and find Him. It is similar to Paul delivering false brethren to Satan that they learn not to blaspheme, the destruction of their body working for the salvation of their souls (1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:20).
Wait a minute, you might say. The context of this passage speaks of the unbeliever! A good God wouldn't allow His beloved children to suffer such things! We only need look at the righteous Son of God Jesus Christ who suffered on the cross for the sins of the world to see such protests are misguided. God disciplines His children for sin, and He also allows them to be tested and tried as in the case of Job. As God's children we can know a couple things for certain: 1) in this life we will suffer according to the will of God (1 Peter 4:19) and 2) we will never be permitted to suffer needlessly (James 5:11). God will bring us to His good intended end as we persevere in faith, and our risen and living Saviour is proof of this. Even in our light affliction (which may seem burdensome beyond measure) God is gracious, merciful, and compassionate.
Knowing God is good and remains in control despite our pains is most comforting. His mercies are new every morning and He never leaves us at the mercy of our enemies - even when it feels like it. The enemy of our souls prowls around seeking to devour, but what is that power to our Good Shepherd who crushed his head on Calvary? Can the strongest lion overpower a forest fire or lightning from a storm? The lion will flee, and so he should. If God can bring eternal life from death on the cross, can't He bring good out of our suffering - we of little faith? Great is God's faithfulness to us!
After turning these thoughts over in my mind, my evening Bible reading echoed what Laura had said. Written by Asaph, Psalm 83 addressed God concerning those who opposed Him and His people as enemies. See what he prayed in Psalm 83:13-16: "O my God, make them like the whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind! 14 As the fire burns the woods, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, 15 so pursue them with Your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD." For those who stubbornly hate God and refuse to hear His Word, God uses the fire of affliction, the tempest of trials, fearful uncertainty, and deep feelings of shame to cause people to seek Him. If they will not pursue God, He can use even the fiercest storms to draw them to Himself that they might be saved. It is one thing to ask God blow His enemies away and consume them with fire, but Asaph rightly sought this ultimately for God's glory - that people would seek God and find Him. It is similar to Paul delivering false brethren to Satan that they learn not to blaspheme, the destruction of their body working for the salvation of their souls (1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:20).
Wait a minute, you might say. The context of this passage speaks of the unbeliever! A good God wouldn't allow His beloved children to suffer such things! We only need look at the righteous Son of God Jesus Christ who suffered on the cross for the sins of the world to see such protests are misguided. God disciplines His children for sin, and He also allows them to be tested and tried as in the case of Job. As God's children we can know a couple things for certain: 1) in this life we will suffer according to the will of God (1 Peter 4:19) and 2) we will never be permitted to suffer needlessly (James 5:11). God will bring us to His good intended end as we persevere in faith, and our risen and living Saviour is proof of this. Even in our light affliction (which may seem burdensome beyond measure) God is gracious, merciful, and compassionate.
Knowing God is good and remains in control despite our pains is most comforting. His mercies are new every morning and He never leaves us at the mercy of our enemies - even when it feels like it. The enemy of our souls prowls around seeking to devour, but what is that power to our Good Shepherd who crushed his head on Calvary? Can the strongest lion overpower a forest fire or lightning from a storm? The lion will flee, and so he should. If God can bring eternal life from death on the cross, can't He bring good out of our suffering - we of little faith? Great is God's faithfulness to us!
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