Not too long ago a lady that I went on several mission trips
with died. She was such a wonderful person. She loved Jesus and was on fire for the Lord. And she was always so nice to me. I considered her my friend. Her death was hard to understand. Why would God take someone that seemed to be
so effective for His kingdom here on earth?
In my dream last night my friend
was with a few other women. One of the
women, I believe, stated that my friend could be healed. But I stepped forward and said something like
this: “No, sometimes God allows us to go
through a special suffering to reveal Christ in our lives.” As I was about to walk away I said to my
friend, “The only thing that matters is Jesus!”
I said it so loud that I think I surprised myself and embarrassed myself
a little. Then I woke up.
The Scripture says that there is a
suffering that is according to the will of God (I Peter 4:19). “Therefore let those who suffer according to
the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful
Creator.” The Scripture says, “…rejoice
to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is
revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (vs. 12, 13)
Why does God allow us to go
through suffering? God’s purpose is to
perfect His children through suffering.
Not a fun topic, I know. Not a
topic to jump up and down about. But God
reveals Himself through our suffering.
God is forming Christ within us.
He is making us more like Jesus. When
we press up against the cross, embracing the death that Jesus died, we are
truly in a place where we can become like Christ. But the story does not end here. “Now if we are children, then we are
heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his
sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17). After Jesus’ suffering came a resurrection! God’s purpose is not that we suffer on and
on, forever and ever. His purpose is
that we also experience His resurrection life.
Things that need to change in our lives can be changed.
I believe in divine healing. I believe with all my heart that God can,
does, and will heal. But I also believe
that sometimes God calls us to through things that are difficult. This difficulty could come in the form of
persecution. It could also come in the
form of some other difficulty. He does
not always remove our problems. We
cannot pray away every problem. If we
suffer according to God’s will we need to submit ourselves to our Faithful
Creator and realize that God has a purpose in it (see I Peter 4:19).
Last night, after going back to
sleep, I dreamt more. When I woke up
again the song was in my heart, “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us.” Beloved, God loves you. The suffering you may be enduring is not a
sign of rejection. It may, in fact, be a
sign of God’s approval on your life. You
are His child, His son or His daughter.
He is at work in you, forming you into the man or woman of God He wants
you to be. You may not see the progress
you are making, but you are getting stronger!
“But may the God of
all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have
suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” – I Peter
5:10
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