Member
“But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their
affliction” (Job 36:15, NIV).
A Word From Billy Graham
“Dr. Edward Judson, in speaking of the life of his father, Adoniram Judson, at
the dedication of the Judson Memorial Church in New York City, said, ‘Suffering
and success go together. If you are succeeding without suffering, it is because
others before you have suffered; if you are suffering without succeeding, it is
that others after you might succeed.’ Happy are they that mourn. They can be
happy because they know that their pain, their distress and their privation are
the travail of a new creation, the birth pangs of a better world. They can be
happy if they are aware that the Master Artist, God, is employing both light and
shadow to produce a masterpiece worthy of divine artistry. They can also glory
in their infirmities, smile through their tears and sing in the midst of their
sorrow, because they realize that in God’s economy, ‘If we suffer, we shall also
reign with Him.’”
Meeting God Face-to-Face
“I am a professor of pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine. Many
times I have asked parents of my patients, ‘If you could rewrite your life’s
script, would you omit any trace of this experience?’ Although they would all
omit the physical suffering of their children, few would want to return to their
former philosophies of life. Before suffering came into their lives through the
illness of their children, their worldview had been distorted, their opinion of
God more hearsay than heart-held. It was in their suffering that they met God
face-to-face. Had it been their choice, the meeting might never have occurred.
For the parents with whom I work, hope springs from their mended places, and
prayers ascend from where they once were broken. In these situations, the story
of Job is an opening in the heavens, a window for those of us who struggle with
suffering. We learn that his suffering had nothing to do with his own
righteousness before God. Neither was his suffering an excuse for him to forsake
God’s ways. God answered Job out of the whirlwind. The Lover of Job’s soul spoke
words through Job’s suffering that Job could not previously understand, things
too wonderful, that he did not know. God was precisely where Job least expected
to find Him, and where we will find Him too” (Diane M. Komp).
Prayer
Lord, thank You for being present with us during suffering. Please help us to
remember that even when we don’t understand the reasons, You always have a
purpose in suffering. Help us to rely on You for strength and to always remember
Christ’s suffering for us. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
affliction” (Job 36:15, NIV).
A Word From Billy Graham
“Dr. Edward Judson, in speaking of the life of his father, Adoniram Judson, at
the dedication of the Judson Memorial Church in New York City, said, ‘Suffering
and success go together. If you are succeeding without suffering, it is because
others before you have suffered; if you are suffering without succeeding, it is
that others after you might succeed.’ Happy are they that mourn. They can be
happy because they know that their pain, their distress and their privation are
the travail of a new creation, the birth pangs of a better world. They can be
happy if they are aware that the Master Artist, God, is employing both light and
shadow to produce a masterpiece worthy of divine artistry. They can also glory
in their infirmities, smile through their tears and sing in the midst of their
sorrow, because they realize that in God’s economy, ‘If we suffer, we shall also
reign with Him.’”
Meeting God Face-to-Face
“I am a professor of pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine. Many
times I have asked parents of my patients, ‘If you could rewrite your life’s
script, would you omit any trace of this experience?’ Although they would all
omit the physical suffering of their children, few would want to return to their
former philosophies of life. Before suffering came into their lives through the
illness of their children, their worldview had been distorted, their opinion of
God more hearsay than heart-held. It was in their suffering that they met God
face-to-face. Had it been their choice, the meeting might never have occurred.
For the parents with whom I work, hope springs from their mended places, and
prayers ascend from where they once were broken. In these situations, the story
of Job is an opening in the heavens, a window for those of us who struggle with
suffering. We learn that his suffering had nothing to do with his own
righteousness before God. Neither was his suffering an excuse for him to forsake
God’s ways. God answered Job out of the whirlwind. The Lover of Job’s soul spoke
words through Job’s suffering that Job could not previously understand, things
too wonderful, that he did not know. God was precisely where Job least expected
to find Him, and where we will find Him too” (Diane M. Komp).
Prayer
Lord, thank You for being present with us during suffering. Please help us to
remember that even when we don’t understand the reasons, You always have a
purpose in suffering. Help us to rely on You for strength and to always remember
Christ’s suffering for us. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.