Without warning, something can happen that will
change your life forever.
A loved
one is disabled by an accident or illness.
A promising career is cut short by
an injury.
A child is born disabled or sick,
or dies.
A marriage crumbles; children
choose not to follow Christ.
A fire, flood, or earthquake
destroys your home or business.
A loved one is killed in battle, by
terrorists, a gang, or by thieves.
How do you react? Do you fall apart? Do you become bitter? Do you
question God?
Life is filled with suffering because we live in a world that has been
corrupted by sin. Each of us will experience some measure of agony during our
lifetime. Its form and duration will vary, but it will come. At times, you may
feel overpowered by seeming tidal waves of adversity. You may find yourself
flailing in an ocean of pain, anguish, or despair.
In the midst of such difficulties, your mind may scream questions like,
“Why did this happen to me?” or “God, where are You?”
A dear friend, at age 17, entered into a lifetime of severe suffering. As
Joni Eareckson dove into a bay, she broke her neck and had to be pulled from the
water. Since then, Joni has been unable to feel or move her arms and legs. The
suffering she experiences is more than most of us will ever be able to
understand.
In her sorrow, Joni asked a question that I am sure all of us have
pondered when going through great difficulty or tragedy: “What possible good
can come out of what I am now going through?” She also asked, “Why me?”
How many times have you had something happen to you and asked that same
question—a question that seems to be the universal cry of those who suffer?
“The suffering and pain,” Joni explains, “have helped me mature
emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Pain and suffering have purpose. I
believe God was working in my life to create grace and wisdom out of the chaos
of pain and depression.”
Esteemed Oxford scholar and author C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us
in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His
megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”1
Suffering is a catalyst that produces spiritual change. God intends
suffering to draw you into His loving arms. Satan (a very real foe), however,
tries to use hardship as a wedge to pry you away from God. As a result, whenever
a crisis enters your life, so does the temptation to doubt God’s love,
goodness, and faithfulness. You are then faced with a crucial, daily decision.
Will you trust God to work in your circumstances or turn your back on Him as you
seek relief or comfort in other ways? Your faith in God and attitude toward Him
ultimately determine whether your trials will make you a better person or serve
as tools for your destruction.
Jesus explains, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and
destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10). God
loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. However, that plan for your
good includes suffering.
It is often during times of suffering that we learn to refocus our lives
on God. David confessed in Psalm 119:71, “The suffering You sent was good
for me, for it taught me to pay attention to Your principles.”
God has a purpose for every difficulty you encounter. Although this
purpose is seldom obvious at the time, you must always remember that God does
not want to destroy you through adversity. Rather, He wants to shape you for His
glory and to conform you to the image of Christ. He does not send suffering to
crush you; He wants you to triumph through suffering.
Let us consider seven benefits God brings out of adversity. You can
remember them by the acrostic TRIUMPH.
God uses suffering to produce…TRIUMPH
Training
in obedience
Refinement
of your character
Intimacy
with your compassionate God and Savior
Understanding
of the hurts of others
Maturity
for ministering to others
Perseverance
in difficult times
Hope
for the future
Suffering
Produces Training in Obedience
Scripture
declares, “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the
things He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Although Jesus never sinned, He was not
immune to suffering. Through His obedience to God, He had to endure unimaginable
hardship and pain on our behalf.
Likewise, suffering can teach you and me obedience so we will not want to
sin. When you experience agony and misery because someone else’s sin has
impacted your life, you will learn to hate evil and the destruction it brings.
It is during these times of great crisis that adversity can teach you
life-changing lessons.
Towards the end of his life, British broadcaster and Christian apologist
Malcolm Muggeridge explained, “Contrary to what might be expected, I look back
on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful with
particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that
everything I have learned in my 75 years in this world, everything that has
truly enhanced and enlightened my experience, has been through affliction and
not through happiness.”2 As the Puritan Thomas Watson wrote, “A
sickbed often teaches more than a sermon,”3
Adversity reveals the inner recesses of your heart and the holiness of
your loving heavenly Father. It brings you to the end of yourself and teaches
you the importance of obedience. The psalmist states,“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word”
(119:67, NIV).
Through ignorance, foolishness, and even willful rebellion, you may
sometimes disobey your heavenly Father’s commands. In those instances, God
uses the painful consequences of your disobedience to teach you why His way is
best.
Referring to those who disobey God, the writer of Hebrews explains, “The
Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son…
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God
disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline
seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a
harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews
12:6,10,11, NIV). The Lord does not enjoy seeing you in misery, but He uses
suffering as a tool so you will become an obedient child and allow Him to mold
you into Christ’s likeness.
Suffering
Produces Refinement of Your Character
God uses trials and tribulation to conform you to the image of His
beloved Son. He revealed His methodology to the people of Judah long before the
birth of Christ: “I have refined you, but not in the way silver is refined.
Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering” (Isaiah 48:10).
His methods are the same today.
When iron ore is dug out of a mountain, it is worth only a few dollars
per ton. But when that same ore is placed in a Bessemer furnace and put under
tremendous heat and pressure, it is changed into a high grade of surgical steel.
In a similar way, it is the heat of adversity that God can do His work of
refinement and sanctification in you.
Adversity is the touchstone of character. Hardship reveals strengths and
weaknesses. If you have been out of fellowship with God, He may use hard times
to restore you. If you are weak, He may use difficulties to strengthen you.
In the 1940s, I owned a specialty-foods firm in Los Angeles. One of my
investors in the business was a member of my church. While I was studying at
Princeton, I hired his son to oversee the company’s daily operations. When I
returned from my studies, I found the business greatly changed. Several members
of this investor’s family were drawing upon our investment! When I confronted
the family, they became defensive and accused me of being dishonest and not
fulfilling my financial commitments to them. Finally, the situation came to the
attention of our pastor. I was cleared of all their accusations, but I was
haunted by the thought that fellow church members may have been influenced by
this family’s gossip and now saw me as phony or dishonest. I lived under this
cloud of embarrassment for more than 2 years.
Some time later, I was nominated to be a deacon at my church. As my name
was mentioned before the congregation, one of my critics stood up and accused me
of being dishonest. Another family member said that I was “not worthy of such
a responsible trust.”
You can imagine the pain I felt as a congregation of more than a thousand
people heard these personal accusation against me.
The
pastor quickly ushered the nominating committee into another room to discuss the
situation. I begged them to withdraw my name, but the pastor assured the
committee that he was well aware of the situation and that the accusations were
not true. He insisted that my name remain on the list of nominees. At that
moment, a woman entered the room and announced, “I don’t know what the
issues are, but I know this: I wouldn’t be a Christian today if it weren’t
for Bill Bright.”
The committee returned to the sanctuary. When it was announced that my
nomination would remain, the congregation burst into standing applause. In an
instant, God liberated me from the refining process.
God was humbling me, polishing me, and preparing me for the vision He was
soon to give me of Campus Crusade for Christ. Had I not gone through that
refining experience, I doubt if God could have ever used me for any holy
purpose.
When you are feeling the heat of adversity, cooperate with God as He does
His refining work in your life. Then you will be able to say with Job, “[God]
knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold”
(Job 23:10, NIV).
Suffering
Produces Intimacy With Your Compassionate God and Savior
The
biblical character of Job has become synonymous with suffering. After enduring
tremendous adversity, Job told God, “I had heard about You before, but now
I have seen You with my own eyes” (Job 42:5). As with Job, God can deepen
your relationship with Him through suffering.
A dear friend of mine, whom I had the privilege of introducing to our
Savior, was one of the most prominent business leaders in his state. With the
passing of time, this successful, influential man became ill with cancer. As his
body was ravaged with disease, he and his wife drew closer and closer to Christ.
They read the Scriptures and sang hymns of praise throughout the day. On several
occasions he said to me, “I am so glad I have cancer because it was only when
I discovered cancer that my relationship with Christ really became intimate. I
had known about Christ. I had received Christ. I went though the ritual of being
a Christian, but somehow it was not until I became ill and faced my eternal
destiny that I looked up and experienced the loving, forgiving grace of God.”
I had the privilege of taking part in his memorial service, a time of
joyful celebration. This man, who had known the best the world could offer, came
to know the best God has to offer—through his adversity.
The Bible promises, “The Lord hears His people when they call to Him
for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the
brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous face
many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one” (Psalm
34:17-19).
The more you go through adversity with God, the more
you will learn how faithful He is to help you in your time of need.
Suffering
Produces Understanding of the Hurts of Others
Referring to Jesus, Scripture says, “This High Priest of ours
understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet
He did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Experiencing adversity allows you to understand and empathize with those
who are hurting. The Bible explains this “chain of comfort”: “[God]
comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are
troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2
Corinthians 1:4).
A storeowner placed a sign in his window announcing “Puppies for
Sale.” Soon a small boy came with $2.37 to buy a puppy. The storeowner
chuckled at the boy’s enthusiasm and agreed to let the boy take a look at the
litter. When the mother and her pups bounded out of the kennel, one of the
puppies lagged behind. The owner explained that the puppy had a malformed hip
socket and would always limp.
The boy excitedly announced that he wanted to buy the limping puppy. He
gave the owner the $2.37 and told him he would pay him every month until he had
paid for the dog. The owner tried to discourage the child, warning him that the
puppy would never run, jump, and play with him like the other puppies. To that,
the boy pulled up his pant leg and revealed a crippled left leg supported by a
metal brace. The boy, too, was lame and knew the little pup would need a person
who understood.4
Paul explains, “You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ,
the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ. So when we are
weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God
comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you
can patiently endure the same things we suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:5,6).
Adversity humbles us and softens our hearts so we are more compassionate
and understanding toward others.
Suffering
Produces Maturity for Ministering to Others
The Word of God offers this challenge: “So take a new grip with your
tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your
feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble
and fall but will become strong” (Hebrews 12:12,13).
Adversity prods you to grow and prepares you to minister to others.
When a mother eagle builds her nest, she begins with unlikely materials:
rocks, thorns, and bits of broken branches. Before she lays her eggs, she
blankets the nest with feathers and fur from animals she has killed. This soft,
downy nest makes a perfect home for her eggs.
Her growing young are so comfortable that when they are old enough to
fly, they are reluctant to leave. That is when the mother eagle begins to
“stir up the nest.” She uses her iron talons to rip up the lining of
feathers and fur, revealing the broken branches and sharp rocks underneath. The
nest becomes uncomfortable for her young, prompting them to fly away and pursue
the life of mature eagles.5
Sometimes God may “stir up the nest” to encourage
you to step out of your comfort zone and to help you mature in new areas.
Hardships make you grow in your understanding of yourself, others, and God.
When you emerge victorious on the other side of your “valley of
adversity,” you will be better able to live as you should and to encourage
others in the often bumpy journey of life. Timothy, who had “suffered and been
insulted” along with Paul, was sent to Thessalonica to strengthen and
encourage the believers as they underwent persecutions and trials (1
Thessalonians 2:2; 3:2,3). By standing firm in the midst of “severe
suffering,” the Thessalonian Christians “became a model to all the
believers in Macedonia and Achaia,” and their “faith in God has become known
everywhere” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8, NIV).
And as you mature in Christ through trials and adversity, you will be
able to minister to those who are hurting, and your victorious life will attract
others to your Savior and Lord.
Suffering Produces Perseverance in
Difficult Times
The Bible tells us, “Dear brothers, is your life full of
difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your
patience has a chance to grow” (James 1:2,3, TLB).
God often uses adversity to strengthen your resolve and solidify your
commitment to Him.
One of the greatest examples of perseverance took place in England during
World War II. At the beginning of the way, Neville Chamberlain was prime
minister. As the Nazis swarmed Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and even
threatened the shores of Great Britain, Chamberlain tried to appease them, to no
avail.
But when Winston Churchill took the helm, he inaugurated his term as
prime minister with these words: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil,
tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have
before us many, many months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our
policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea, and air. War with all our might
and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous
tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime.
That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is
victory. Victory at all costs—victory in spite of all terrors—victory,
however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no
survival.”6
Churchill’s words are those of perseverance. As sirens sounded and
bombs pounded Great Britain, he told his people to “never give up.”
Ultimately, with help from the United States, victory came to Great
Britain because of the determination and perseverance of the British under the
inspired leadership of Winston Churchill.
Are you in the midst of a divorce? Do you or a loved one have cancer or
another deadly disease? Are you worried about your financial situation? Are you
being persecuted for your faith? No matter how “long and hard the road may
be,” if you love, trust, and obey God, He will give you the strength necessary
to persevere.
Muscles are strengthened by encountering and overcoming resistance. Some
weightlifters are able to life several times their own weight because they have
built up their muscles. But the process is painful. They must repeatedly lift
heavy weights, causing their muscle fibers to tear, heal, and eventually
thicken. That is what makes them stronger.
All of us who have experienced sore muscles know that
the process of becoming physically stronger is painful. The same is true of
developing an unwavering faith. Only when your faith is stretched and tested
does it become strong.
Scripture urges, “So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead,
even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These
trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is
being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more
precious to God then mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being
tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the
day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6,7).
As your faith in God grows, your perseverance increases. And as you
experience His provision in your trials, something else happens. God brings a
seventh benefit out of adversity.
The
Bible promises, "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our
hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us" Romans 5:3-5, NIV).
This
is a marvelous truth of Scripture: for Christians, suffering leads to hope.
Irena
Dragas grew up in the Croatian region of Yugoslavia. When she was 16 years old,
her only brother died in a tragic car accident on his way home from a mission
trip. Then when she was 17, war broke out and militant Serbians attacked her
town. After days of hiding in her basement, she and her family escaped only to
find themselves homeless refugees. They traveled from place to place living in
other people's homes, hiding from bombs and dodging grenades. As she viewed the
destruction of cities turned into ghost towns and heard so many heartbreaking
stories of shattered lives, she often wondered how she could find hope in
the midst of war and death. Because she was a Christian, she often tried to
force herself to feel hopeful. But her efforts only met with disappointment.
One
night she lay in bed in a sparsely furnished apartment temporarily provided to
her family by a refugee agency. Although it was a few days before Christmas,
they had no decorations, no Christmas tree, and no mementos of cherished
memories from the past. Yet suddenly, joy and hope washed over her. It was not a
joy in her circumstances. War is horrible, and the hardships she experienced
were tragic. But she realized that she could find hope in the One beyond the
circumstances. Although her life was turned upside down, God's character had not
changed. His love and His integrity were still the same. Even in a strange
apartment in an unfamiliar city in the middle of a war, she could
experience hope because she was in the palm of God's hand.
Halford
E. Luccock penned these words: "Where there is no faith in the future,
there is no power in the present."7 As Christians, we have every
reason to have faith in the future, because God has promised His beloved
children a glorious inheritance and a future of intimate fellowship with Him.
Scripture assures us, "God blesses the people who patiently endure
testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to
those who love Him" (James1: 12).
God is your hope! And because of His faithfulness and power, you can face
the adversities of life without fear, and triumph!
God Will Help
You to Triumph
The Bible proclaims, "Thanks
be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us
spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him" (2
Corinthians 2:14, NlV). God does not want His children to be crushed by life's
hardships. He wants you and me to triumph! And we can live victoriously if we
will draw upon God’s faithful promises and the example of our wonderful
Savior, Jesus.
Jesus
Understands Your Suffering
Our
Savior suffered overwhelming adversity, and through it transformed the world.
Listen to this prophetic description of the Messiah from the Old Testament:
He
was despised and rejected—a Man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief.
We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was
despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our
weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought
His troubles were a punishment from God for His own sins! But He was wounded and
crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped,
and we were healed! (Isaiah 53:3,5).
Jesus endured
temptation without sinning so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for your
sins (Hebrews 4:15). He endured rejection and persecution to make you acceptable
to God. He defeated death through His resurrection so you could live with Him
forever. He loved you while you were still His enemy so you could become His
friend.
And now this glorious Savior sits in power at the right hand of God the
Father. Although in heaven, through His Spirit He also lives within every
believer. He can relate to what you are going through. He understands your
misery. And He assures you, "Here on earth you will have many
trials
and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world"
(John 6:33).
That is a promise you can cling to
during times of suffering. When you do, the Bible promises, "Every child
of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory"
(1 John 5:4). Christ living in you ensures victory over anything this life may
bring you (Colossians 1:27).
God is Always
With You
God
promises, "I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you
without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave
you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly
not!]" (Hebrews 13:5, Amplified).
Paul experienced the reality of
God's continuous loving presence, regardless of his circumstances. He exclaimed,
"I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death
can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for
today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's
love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in
all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is
revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38,39). Your loving God
and compassionate Savior is always with you—in this life and the next. No
spiritual force or being can separate you from His amazing love. No future
tragedy or difficult circumstance can ever remove you from the presence of
Christ's love. It does not matter where you go on earth or even in space, you
can never go beyond the boundary of His all-encompassing love.
God Turns Your
Hardships Into Blessings
No matter what you are going through, no matter what kind of hardship you
may face, the Bible declares that you cannot lose. God gives this magnificent
assurance in Romans 8:28: "We know that God causes everything to work
together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His
purpose for them."
God
does not promise that only good things will happen to His children. He does not
promise ‘health, wealth and prosperity’ to every believer. However, He does
promise that whatever happens, He will use for your eternal benefit. You may not
always understand the reason for difficulties in your life, but God can and will
bring good out of bad situations. He always turns tragedy into triumph for those
who love, trust, and obey Him.
In the book It Is Toward Evening,
Vance Havner tells of a small Southern community where the people specialized in
growing cotton. In fact, cotton was the only crop the townspeople grew. No one
in the community became rich, but everyone managed to get by—until disaster
struck. A small insect, the boll weevil, invaded the fields, destroying the
crops and threatening to ruin the community. Out of frustration, the farmers
planted peanuts and other crops in their ravaged fields. Eventually, these crops
brought the town greater prosperity than it could have ever experienced raising
cotton. In the end, what seemed a calamity became the catalyst for undreamed
wealth. In appreciation, the townspeople erected a monument to the boll weevil,
which still stands today.8
God has absolute sovereign control
over everything. No hardship, sickness, disaster, or evil can touch your life
without His divine permission. And when it does, He will sovereignly transform
the result of the adversity into a blessing as you daily respond in faith and
trust. Everything that happens to you is filtered through His love.
God Gives Peace
in the Midst of Adversity
The Bible declares, "Don't
worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need,
and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's
peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace
will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" (Philippians
4:6,7).
I
do not look forward to conflicts, confrontations, or suffering, but when I
encounter them, I know that God is in control. Through the years, I have seen
numerous examples of His faithfulness. When Vonette and I were confronted by
interpersonal conflicts inherent to any organization, Jesus filled us with His
supernatural love and patience. During times of serious physical illness,
Vonette and I have clung to our Savior for strength and peace. And in the midst
of watching loved ones die, the Lord has sustained us.
None
of these experiences were pleasant at the moment they were happening. However,
when we follow the biblical injunction to love, trust, and obey God, He has a
way of turning tragedy into triumph. After God sent King Hezekiah tremendous
hardship to humble him, the king realized, "Indeed it was for my own
peace that I had great bitterness" (Isaiah 38:17).
Jesus
gave this wonderful promise to His disciples and all of us, "Peace I
leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do
not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27, NIV).
After 55 years of walking with my Lord and Savior, I can confidently say that He
is faithful to His promises.
And
because He is, I can experience His peace no matter how difficult my
circumstances may be.
Suffering Results in Future Glory
The apostle Peter writes, "Dear
friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if
something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—because these
trials will make you partners with Christ in His suffering, and afterward you
will have the wonderful joy of sharing His glory when it is displayed to all the
world" (1 Peter 4:12,13).
Although
your problems may be overwhelming in this life, they are insignificant compared
to the marvelous future glory that awaits you in Christ. The Bible promises,
"Our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet,
they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we
don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what
we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to
come will last forever" (2 Corinthians 4: 17,18).
When
you remember the glorious destiny that is yours with Christ, your problems today
become easier to endure. As you daily place your faith in Christ and invite Him
to live His supernatural life in and through you, you can experience a life of
victory—now and for eternity.
You Are More Than a Conqueror
Thousands of years ago, tragedy
changed the life of a Hebrew youth named Daniel. The powerful pagan ruler, King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, conquered his people. Daniel was taken from his
homeland of Judah to a foreign country to be trained as a slave to serve this
pagan despot.
Although his life was turned upside down, Daniel knew one thing had not
changed. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. By continuing to place
his faith in the Lord, Daniel conquered his conqueror. He won the king's favor
and respect. Nebuchadnezzar came to rely on Daniel's wisdom and to admire his
faith. Eventually this pagan ruler surrendered his life to the Creator God, the
King of the universe.
Though Nebuchadnezzar was a
conqueror, Daniel was more than a conqueror.
Scripture
triumphantly proclaims that this same victory belongs to all who are in Christ.
God assures us, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us"
(Romans 8:35,37, NIV)
In
the mid-1800s, a young couple in Glasgow, Scotland, gave birth to a beautiful
baby boy. However, the baby developed an eye infection, which marred his vision.
Although his parents and medical specialists fought heroically to reverse his
declining eyesight, before George Matheson finished his coursework at Glasgow
University, he was completely blind. His familywas distraught.
George was deeply committed to
the Lord, so rather than becoming bitter, he drew upon his Savior's strength.
Within a few years, he graduated with honors in philosophy, studied for the
ministry, and became minister of one of the largest congregations in Edinburgh!
In his memorable lifetime, he not only prepared countless sermons, he also
visited his many parishioners, continued his studies, and wrote twelve books and
numerous articles.
How difficult it must have been for George and his parents when he first
lost his eyesight. But God gave him the courage, perseverance, and
resourcefulness to be victorious in spite of his handicap. And his faith grew
ever stronger. After twenty years of blindness, he penned this beautiful hymn:
O Love that will not let me go,
I
rest my weary soul on Thee!
I
give Thee back the life I owe
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.9
You, too, can experience supernatural victory in the midst of adversity.
Christ has given you the victory, but you can share in His triumph only by
placing your faith in God and His promises and by inviting Christ to live in and
through you. As you do, you will experience an abundant, supernatural life of
power, peace, joy, and triumph!
Remember
the wise counsel of 19th century minister and hymn writer Phillips Brooks:
"Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for
tasks commensurate with your strength. Pray for strength commensurate with your
tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a
miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself—at the richness of life which
has come to you by the grace of God."
End
Notes
R. Kent Hughes, 1001 Great Stories & Quotes
(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1998), p. 404.
Thomas Watson, All Things for Good, reprint of 1663
original (Edinburgh, UK: The Banner of Truth Trust).
Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, ChickenSoup for the Soul
(Deerfield Beach, FL Health
Communications, Inc., 1993), p. 65.
Today in the Word (Chicago, IL: Moody Bible
Institute), June 11, 1989.
Winston Churchill, first speech as Prime Minister to
House of Commons, May 13, 1940, London, England, www.winstonchurchill.org/blood.htm
(The Churchill Center, Washington, D.C.).
Halford E. Luccock, Unfinished Business: Short
Diversions on Religious Themes (New York: Harper, 1956).
R. Kent Hughes, 1001 Great Stories & Quotes (Wheaton,
IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1998), p. 129.
Lloyd M. Perry and Charles Sell, Speaking to Life's
Problems (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1983), p. 198.
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