For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
This has been a Bible verse that many Christians have used to encourage themselves during times of trouble. However, do we truly understand God’s plan. Think about it. The writer of this verse is called “the weeping prophet.” Jeremiah was obedient to God, but this faithfulness had consequences. He was slandered, rejected, abused, beaten and thrown in a muddy pit. Yet, he never gave up on God. Many Christians throughout the world experience similar trials as Jeremiah did. Nevertheless, they stand firm in their faith.
Recently, I have become acquainted with a missionary family that ministered in a country where Christians face much persecution. The husband was even thrown into jail. And now he has to undergo a life-saving operation. Questions abound. Could God not have stopped their suffering? After all He is an all-powerful God. How could they still have faith in God when they have gone through so many huge problems? Is God actually hearing His suffering saints when they cry out to Him?
What is inspiring about this family is that they know how to have a Godly response to suffering. In their latest update, they wrote. “The truth is that this year we have lived what Jeremiah said that His mercies are new every morning. We can also testify that He is still too good to us and that everything works for His eternal purposes. We know what part of it is suffering that works for good. God uses them all to mold our character for Him to be Glorified. As a family we have lived through difficult times but Christ is our immovable Rock.”
The members of this missionary family have come to recognize God’s mighty work in their trials. They know His mercies are new every morning and that He is their hope. God giving us a hope and future is from an eternal perspective and not limited to our myopic view of this temporal period we will have on earth. God is working all things for good. Good that lasts for an eternity. We just have to trust Him in the trial knowing that triumph will come out of life’s tragedies. And in the fiery furnace of affliction, He is refining us into pure gold for His glory.
This quote has been attributed to C.S. Lewis, "Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties." Our loving and good God gives us peace that surpasses all understanding. (See Philippians 4:6). Peace is not the absence of turmoil, but the presence of God in the midst of tumult. There are Bible scholars who say that a third of the Psalms are songs of lamentations declaring the writers’ suffering and questioning God about their predicament. Frankly, even the beloved Psalm 23 although often used for encouragement shows the psalmist David walking through the valley of the shadow of death and having a table set before him in the presence of his enemies. This is the same David, who although anointed king had to be on the run and hide away in a cave. We will have trying trails to trudge and we will come up against enemies, but we will eventually overcome as greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world. (See 1 John 4:4)
Life wasn’t easy for followers of Christ in the New Testament either. You would have thought that since they were walking with Christ, they would not have to experience a lot of troubles. However, on the contrary, they had to suffer through many difficulties too.
Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:28-30
Persecution is a must for Christians. If they persecuted Jesus, then we will be persecuted. The question is, “how will we face persecution?” And not only persecution, but hardships that come with co-laboring with Christ.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:25-28
Many missionaries and ministers throughout the world have faced a lot of what Paul had gone through. Some go hungry and go on treacherous trails to spread the Gospel, which takes a toll on their bodies. Others have been imprisoned and beaten, and their houses have been burned down. And there are those who have lost their lives for Christ.
Let us not be unaware of the troubles of many suffering saints throughout the world, who have been under great pressure, which is often far beyond their ability to endure, and who feel they may not live through these hardships. (See 2 Corinthians 1:8). Let us make it a point to pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering for Christ.
Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
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