I know that there are many who say that it is not God's will for his children to suffer. We are told that we would never have to suffer sickness, poverty, or sorrow, if we were better Christians. Do not be mislead by such foolishness. One of the last things our Lord said to his disciples, before his crucifixion was this, "IN THE WORLD YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION."If language means anything, those words plainly affirm that which we all know by experience - AS LONG AS GOD'S ELECT ARE IN THIS WORLD THEY WILL, LIKE OUR MASTER, BE MEN OF SORROW AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF. Someone said, "God has one Son without sin, but he has no sons without sorrow." The plain fact is, as long as we live in this body of flesh, we will have tribulation. God has chosen his elect in the furnace of affliction. All gold must be refined. It must pass through the fire. And the refining process is a painful experience. We all have to learn to deal with sickness, pain, sorrow, and bereavement. These are things that touch your life experiences and mine. I want to share with you some things which give me comfort in the midst of my own trials. I believe they will help you. I know some of God's children who seem never to have a day without sorrow. You may be one of them. But do not be discouraged.
OUR TRIALS AND AFFLICTIONS DO NOT IMPLY THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS ANGRY, OR DISPLEASED, WiTH US. As I read the Bible, I find that those men who were strong in faith and walked in communion with the Lord often had to endure very sharp trials. Job was am an blameless in conduct and upright in heart; yet Job suffered many great sorrows. Abraham was called "the friend of God"; yet God's friend Abraham endured many painful trials. David was the man after God's own heart, an example to us all of humility, faith and obedience; yet David's household, his wife and his children caused him much grief. As you read the lives of Peter, James, John, and Paul, recorded for us in the New Yestament, you cannot fail to get the impression that these men knew something about suffering, pain, and sorrow. Yet all of these men were loved of God, chosen, redeemed, and accepted in Christ. So far from indicating God's displeasure, Paul tells us that our trials are an indication of his Fatherly love toward us - "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with son,...but if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." REMEMBER TOO THAT OUR TRIALS, WHATEVER THEY ARE, COME FROM THE HAND OF OUR LOVING FATHER. "All things are of God." Prosperity and adversity, health and sickness, joy and sorrow, life and death come to us by the hand of God. He promises that he rules all the affairs of the universe for us. Nothing ever comes to pass without his penmission and decree. Whatever the trial is that he sends you is for your good. He may not reveal what his good purpose is; but he has putposed to do us good. That is enough! Our heavenly Father is too wise to err, too good to do wrong, and too powerful to fall. Faith wisely submits to his will, trusting his wisdom, goodness, and power. He who shed his blood to redeem us will do us good. If you are God's child by faith in Christ, whatever your trial is, it comes from God for your good; and he will give you grace and strength both to endure it and to overcome it. AND SOON YOUR TRIALS WILL BE OVER. Soon, "your sorrow shall be turned into Joy." You will not have to suffer long. The Lord will see to it that his child suffers no more than is needful, and that his child suffers no longer than is needful. Even if your trial should bring you to the grave, that will be a happy end for God's elect. Soon, we shall lay down our cross and take up our crown. Soon, our night of weeping shall be over and our day of rejoicing shall begin. Our Savior said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
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