I feel like my family and I are currently walking through a season of mourning. It’s easy to become discouraged when you find yourself in seasons of trial. The human response is to self-protect, withdraw and become despondent. But, I’ve seen so many glimmers of hope and light in this season that I couldn’t have seen anywhere else. I’m constantly reminded that there’s a song that can only be sung in the night, and that there’s a deep preciousness in it.

‘Breakdowns are good for You’ is the title of one of the books that we have on our shelves. It’s a powerful book that reminds us that it’s IN the trial, in the pain, and in the confusion that we’re led to CLING to Jesus like no other time.

I watched a sermon from Joni Erickson Tada the other day, in which she spoke brokenheartedly about our (specifically Western, but also human) fear of suffering. She used the example of how many born again Christians advocate FOR euthanasia and spoke about how this is evidence of our lack of understanding of suffering. We run from it, avoid it and fear it, but rarely do we face it head on like a child of God is called to.

A few years ago, I decided to as much as possible go without painkillers. This was largely because I was in search of natural remedies that I could use frequently in place of drugs like Paracetamol, Ibuprofin and Aspirin, but also because I noticed something about my character that was changing. This is a girly example, but I noticed that the hours or days of pain that I willfully endured were a great opportunity to test my patience, kindness, self-lessness, focus and endurance. Whether you’re a guy or a girl, I’m sure at some point you’ve heard females make excuses for their bad attitude by blaming it on their hormones. Obviously, there’s some truth to this, and unfailingly once a month I am WAY more emotional for a week than usual (which is impressive because I’m a highly emotional and sensitive individual normally). I’ll cry at the house not being clean, lunch being late, or a word spoken slightly passively. It’s a very real battle of the flesh to keep control of my emotions and remember to continually take possession of the Spirit’s fruits. But, the addition of severe pain in those weeks provides a unique opportunity for self-denial. I’ve learned that if I can be patient, kind, soft-spoken and joyful when I’m in great pain and feeling miserable, it’s much easier to be all those things when I’m feeling great. I’m learning to revel in these weeks instead of fearing them.

It’s a very practical example, but one that has really marked me. It has changed my attitude in the face of opposition, struggle, frustration and pain. I’ve learned to expect to have 1 or 2 completely sleepless nights a month due to pain and discomfort, and I look forward to the time with God that I have during these nights. Instead of fearing the pain and sleeplessness, I rejoice in the fact that I get a whole night of talking to Jesus!

One of my favourite quotes right now is, “God cares more about our character than our comfort.” Oh my goodness this is so true!! Joni Erickson Tada pointed out that God takes no delight in our pain. He hurts with us. It HURTS Him to see His children hurt, but He values our hearts SO highly that He allows us to experience pain and refinement. Paul puts it like this:

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (I Peter 1:6-7 NKJV)

And again:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2‭-‬4 NKJV)

This is wild!! This totally redefines suffering for the believer! This tells us that it is actually the KINDNESS of God that causes Him to allow us to experience trials.

A friend recently shared with me about the relational struggles that she’s having. After she shared, she said, “I look around at normal people, and ask ‘Why me, God?!'” It’s easy to look at our problems and think that it’s unfair and that God’s being unkind. This is our human response. But, how often do we respond with the mind of Christ and be THANKFUL for our suffering in that it is an opportunity to see Jesus more clearly and become more like Him. This isn’t to say that we should welcome sickness or pain; they are enemies of the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore shouldn’t be nurtured. However, we can still be thankful for them as we recognise that they remind us that this is not our home and ever beckon us to realise our identity in the Father.

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Romans 5:3‭-‬5 NKJV

I think it’s time for the Church to look like this. I think it’s time for us to embody glory in all things. This our calling; our true identity.

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” (II Timothy 1:8‭-‬9 NKJV)

This holy calling of ours is so far beyond and above what we could envision. The pain that marks our story is unfolding a weight of glory in us that will be without price.

In commanding and exhorting us to rejoice in the trials, Paul repeatedly reminds us that this pain, this darkness, is only as passing thing; a mist that must one day lift. As Sam says, “But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.” (The Two Towers, LOTR) Realising this has given me strength and joy many times in the face of struggle. From small family arguments to the fear of the unknown, KNOWING that all fear, pain, uncertainty and loss will one day be a memory gives me the confidence to ‘sing over my sorrows, dance over my troubles, and … laugh in the face of my trials‘ (Overcomer, Lucy Grimble).

It’s time for the Body to stop running from and avoiding struggles. We were called to OVERCOME. We can’t do that if we’re not facing anything that requires us to do battle.

“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:7‭-‬9 NKJV

Let’s be people who face what hurts us, who confront what discomforts us, and who endure what pains us. It’s here, in our weakness, that the world will clearly see the glory of our God.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:30 NKJV

Let’s allow ourselves to become people who rejoice in all things and ceaselessly bring praise to our Father.

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He’s good.

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“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
I Peter 1:13-21