Last week was one of those "What a week's!!!!" And it had nothing to do with anything that happened personally to me. But it has everything to do with SO many people surrounding me-- whether I knew them personally or just saw it on the news. It was everything from burying SSgt. Jason Rogers of the Marine Corps and the shameless, heartless protesters of Westboro to tornadoes leaving a wide path of destruction. From hearing a patient talk about the loss of her husband whom she still misses more than anyone can ever understand, after almost 2 years, to the death of someone sudden on Friday night. It was, for lack of better description, a very emotional week. My heart is very heavy for so many people.
Uncertain times and a future that we can't foresee can make it a very questionable point in our lives. I was so tired of hearing such bad news last week when a friend reminded me of this verse:
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Being reminded of that short, simple verse overwhelmed me with a peace like nothing else. How hard is it for us to forget the simple, yet profound fact that God is still in control? It's quite easy. He's bigger than whatever we are struggling with. He is bigger than our hurt. He has conquered IT ALL. It doesn't get any more simple than that. We have never been promised an easy journey-- And I can't explain why some seem to deal with so much more heartache than others. I can only say that God doesn't sit back and watch us suffer for no reason and no purpose. It's a part of His ultimate plan and purpose for OUR lives and HIS glory.
If we didn't experience pain, heartache, and loss, how could we ever know the full power of our Lord Jesus Christ in all of His splendor? As one of our sweet patients was talking to me about the loss of her husband (who was a precious, precious, man and a shining example of a Christ follower) she got very emotional. She does this every time she comes in, but I love hearing her talk about him and reminisce about their marriage together. And I love the fact that she feels comfortable enough to come in and get a cavity filled and talk to us like we're old friends. But she said something that really touched me. She said she was never angry at her husband (he was diagnosed with cancer and opted out of chemo treatment), she was never angry with God, but she did question why God would take him from this life so soon when he still had many years to share his ministry and share God with others. She then said that as clear as a bell, she heard God tell her, "What about my Son? He only ministered for three-and-a-half years. Do you not think He could have been used much longer than that?" She said she never questioned God about it after that. Of course, by this point, with all my pregnancy hormones, I was crying my eyes out. What a true statement. Jesus only walked this earth for 33 years, and ministered a little over 3 of them, and God chose to use Him in a more profound way by what most would consider an untimely, unspeakable death.
We also have the story of Paul. Paul, who was afflicted by many different things from the time we are ever introduced to him. Paul, who suffered many trials, yet could boast about all of them through Christ who gave Him the strength to endure. Paul, who asked God to remove the thorn from his side, yet whatever that thorn was, it remained with him. Just a reminder:
2 Corinthians 11:23-30
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Trials will come and trials will go. Some will become a distant, all but forgotten memory, and some will leave deep and painful scars. Yet through it all, if we allow and ASK God to use our pain for His purpose, He can and WILL do it. But we have to ask. God wants us to openly put our trust and hope in Him. Without those 2 things, we suffer through pain that can be unnecessary. While being a Christ follower doesn't give us the promise of a life without trials, it does give us the promise that we will be given grace for each second, peace beyond understanding, and a permanent home beyond any comparison. These things on earth are temporary, even though some may feel like their pain will endure for eternity. God has overcome this world. He has conquered death and He has conquered our pain.
James 1:12
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Romans 5:2-4
And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Then last, but certainly not least, on this week of Easter, we have the sufferings and trials of Jesus Christ. He suffered the most unthinkable death for all of us, yet even though he was 100% God, he was also 100% human and pleaded with God to take the cup from his hands. Not because he didn't WANT to die for us, he knew all along that that was the plan, but because he showed us that he was still human and showed the same fear and sorrow that any of us would show at a point before we knew we were going to die.
Matthew 26:36-44
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
And we, of course, know the eventual happy ending to that tragic story. One man beaten and tortured to death to save all of mankind. Whatever trial WE may be going through, we can have the peace that we too will have a happy ending, if we choose to be a Christ follower and put our hope in Him.
