Thoughts On Suffering and Trials

I believe in a sovereign God. So when I look around (or inwards) and see all the suffering, it is often difficult to reconcile His power with a loving God. Surely a loving God who is all-powerful would do something to relieve the suffering of His people.

But no. Our suffering is called chastisement. It is given by God Himself, according to Scripture, in order to strengthen us and to lead us to greater understanding.

Those who've endured abuse as well as some of their therapists perceive this is exactly the argument of an abuser. An abuser, in the midst of his torments, tells his victims, "This is for your own good."

So what's the difference? The difference is that God sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross. He scorned the shame and endured the suffering and persecution. Our sovereign God is also a suffering God. One who has taken on Himself, undeserving, all the destructive power of Hell. He endured infinite torment, closed in a frame just like mine, to crush the head of the serpent. To draw the deadly poison from pain. So that now, the suffering He serves us is in the character of the pain inflicted by a surgeon saving the life of a cancer patient; or of an Olympic trainer preparing an athlete for victory.

Christ Jesus does not view our suffering from a safe distance. He does not even enter the suffering with us. He is there already, waiting for us to join Him in the 'fellowship of His suffering'.

The Babylonians were a polytheistic people and worshiped many gods. A refusal to worship the gods of Babylon was regarded as an act of hostility against Babylon and the king. The people under subjection of the Babylon empire were free to worship their national gods as long as they acknowledged the gods of Babylon were the most powerful. Those who were under the subjection of Babylon would not find this difficult to do. It merely meant adding another god to the multitude of gods. Nebuchadnezzar did not demand anything which every one of his subjects could not obey. The command to worship the image had not only political significance but a religious one as well. (The Book of Daniel)

Today we find a similar attitude in the claim all gods are equal. We have professing Christians worshiping with the worshipers of the gods of the world. In the book of Daniel, when all the people heard the musical instruments all the people obeyed except three Israelites (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego). They refused to bow before and worship the image erected by Nebuchadnezzar, an example every Christian should follow.

The three Israelites insisted they will never worship the image, no matter what the consequences. They did not defend themselves. There was no need; their guilt in this matter is well established. They did not find it necessary to defend themselves because they had a clear understanding of the power of God and His sovereignty over the world.

Nebuchadnezzar sentenced them to the death and ordered they be thrown into a fiery furnace. Not only that, but he ordered the furnace be heated to seven times its normal heat. The extreme heat killed the men that threw these three faithful Israelites into the furnace. This is a testimony of the promise to Abraham that God will curse those who curse His chosen people (Genesis 12:3).

Now, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not asked to renounce their God; they were commanded to bow down to the gods of Babylon. A refusal to worship the gods of Babylon was regarded as an act of hostility against Babylon and the king. The people under subjection of the Babylon empire were free to worship their national gods as long as they acknowledged the gods of Babylon were the most powerful.

Today, there is much turmoil in our own country over this very issue. Politicians say they separate church and state, but the political climate has very much become intertwined with the faith or lack of faith of the people. As a follower of Jesus Christ, will you take your stand when faced with the demand to worship another god? Will you continue to trust in our sovereign God if sentenced to your own fiery furnace or will you follow what everyone else is doing? Would you succumb to the mark of the beast or would you wear the symbol of the persecuted Christian? Do we have enough faith to stand with these three young men who stood in the presence of the one who could them to the fiery furnace?

The three Israelites were walking around in the fiery furnace, untouched by the flames and heat. However, the ropes that bound them were gone; they were removed. An angel was in the fiery furnace with them, protecting them. The fury of the flames was quenched by their faith in their faithful God. The king of Babylon witnessed God's power and had them removed from the fiery furnace. (Daniel 3)

So, if you find yourself tossed into the furnace, expect two things. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, expect God to show up, and expect your bonds to go up in smoke.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2