Romans 8:18-23
Yet what we suffer now is nothing
compared to the glory he will give us later. For all creation is waiting
patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect his
children. For on that day thorns and thistles, sin, death, and decay —
the things that overcame the world against its will at God’s
command—will all disappear, and the world around us will share in the
glorious freedom from sin which God’s children enjoy.
For we know
that even the things of nature, like animals and plants, suffer in
sickness and death as they await this great event. And even we
Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of
future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We,
too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights
as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us—bodies that
will never be sick again and will never die.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
A few weeks after my dad
died, I was telling a friend about how much he suffered…the two years of
daily dialysis that confined him to bed and a machine for 14 hours
every night…the chronic depression that made him want to lie in that bed
and beg to die much of the time…the constant itching and sensitivity to
smells and tastes that goes along with renal failure and makes one
miserable…the countless trips to the hospital and Emergency Room for
treatments for everything from anxiety to blood loss. And in the midst
of this, my dad lost his only son and suffered incredible grief and
heartache. He often cried, “I want to go with him.” I noted that after
all of this, my dad had a stroke one day post hernia surgery that
paralyzed him from the chest down…and a few hours later, a heart attack
took his life. I questioned why Daddy had to suffer like this, when the
ultimate result was “sudden” death.
I will never forget my
friend’s response. He asked, “In the scheme of things, wasn’t all of
that suffering just a ‘blip on the screen’ compared to what awaited your
dad in heaven forever and ever?” He went on to suggest that we think
about our earthly suffering in terms of time as we know it…but in
comparison to Eternity and the peace and joy that awaits us there, it
loses much of its punch and power.
Do not misunderstand me…I know that many have suffered.
I do not in any way wish to diminish any person’s grief, physical
discomfort and illness, and heartaches of all kinds. I know that people
are physically, mentally and emotionally ravaged by lousy childhoods,
war, the violence and hatred of others, and horrific injuries and
diseases. I acknowledge human and animal cruelty…and how agonizing it
can be to endure cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other terrible
diseases. I know that life can be very hard for many. And it is easy to
ask God, “WHY?”
But I also know that because I trust God…because I believe in His promises…the suffering will
end – and it will have been a “blip on the screen” for those who
trusted Him and waited anxiously for Heaven. In the meantime, suffering
is real for so many…and to those who suffer, I say, “God sees you. He
knows you are hurting, and He is not punishing you. He is drawing you
close in your pain, heartache and grief. He is strengthening your
‘faith muscle’ as you rely more on Him and less on yourself to do these
really hard things.”
I have discovered in the last few days that
I’ve been relying too much on my own strength in recent months – and not
enough on the power of God…and I didn’t even realize it. I have
finally humbled myself and admitted to God that I need His help…that
“life” has been a lot harder than I thought it was going to be…and I
cannot do this without Him. I know that I am not going to be instantly
“better” because of this…but my focus has shifted. I am looking at the
bigger picture, rather than the “blip on the screen.”
I am
recognizing just how much I need God in my life…His grace, mercy,
forgiveness, and healing. I have redoubled my determination to walk in
faith even more…and to let God carry me as I focus on a broader
landscape – and the promise of Heaven – and less on the past and the
immediate present. There will be plenty of unpleasant events and
circumstances yet to come in my lifetime, but I will not face them
alone. I will do all I can to wait patiently for God to lead me out of
these adversities…and I will look forward to the glory of Heaven and the
perfect peace that He is preparing for me there. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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