Who Said Life Was Easy?

We wonder at how it could happen; how God could let it happen.  Tragedies that befall upon the "good" people of this world- young parents at the death of a child, loved ones suffering with cancer, divorce threatening a once stable marriage.  We question God and his sovereignty.  We inform an all-knowing God that He does not know what He is doing; must not have considered the faithfulness of these people.

It seems a common expectation of Christians that life will be easy and safe, though the Bible warns us of exactly the opposite.  Somehow it seems logical that as faithful followers of Christ, a man of great suffering and sorrows, we should be freed of our own.

As Christ approached His death, He experienced great mental anguish.  Imagine having the awareness of God of what was to come and the ability of God to prevent it, but submitting entirely to the plan.  We forget that it was not easy for Christ to bear these qualities here on earth.  Long before His death had been plotted, He knew the great suffering He would endure.  He also knew that He had the power to stop it.  At any point, He could have decided that we were not worth.  In the words of the great song "Ten Thousand Angels," He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free.  He was not helpless, but He refused to save Himself in order to save us.  The temptation must have been so real- excruciating to resist.

In John Chapter 12:27-28 Christ says, "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say, 'Father, save me from this hour?'  No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  Father, glorify your name!"  This verse describes Christ's ability to save Himself, but His willingness to save us.  A voice from Heaven proclaims that His name has been glorified and will be glorified again.  Then Jesus informs the crowd that the voice was for their benefit, not ours.  How can we benefit from this story?

Jesus knew what we so often struggle with.  He knew that His sufferings would lead to God's glory which would be for the benefit of the whole world and Christ as well.  This knowledge, this trust in God, this faith is what gave Him the strength to submit to the suffering.  So often we cry for God to save us from "this hour" of suffering, but it would behoove us to follow Christ's example and declare, "Father, glorify your name!"  In this we will find the strength to push through the sorrows of this world to find everlasting peace in a God who can carry us through all troubles.

If the Son of God was not spared suffering, we should know that we will not expect to be spared either.  But what, then, is the promise of God?  Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  There is no promise of being exempt from troubles, but that He will be our ever-present help in the midst of troubles.  So often our doubt in God is founded in the fact that we face troubles here on earth, but we can watch our faith grow abundantly if we were to submit to our trials and make our pleading be "Father, glorify your name."

Romans 8:28 assures us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."  Dear Christian, He is working ALL things in your life for good!  There is a purpose in your suffering- a strength, a perseverance, a salvation that will glorify His name and that will lead you to everlasting peace and comfort.