The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:16-17
As I continue to facilitate another support group, I have the benefit of being reminded of (or in some cases, relearning) past lessons regarding the roll of suffering in faith and in my relationship with God. I’ve been going to church since I was born and I’ve been a Christian most of my life. Much of my childhood was spent being instructed in or listening to the finer points of faith being discussed or debated. As an adult, I’ve participated in many such discussions and led a few. These are the things of religion. While I have had a relationship with God since my youth and recognize periods of significant spiritual growth throughout my life, that relationship has been significantly altered by my illness. In that regard, my suffering has been my greatest blessing in that has matured my faith and pushed me to a deeper relationship with our Lord.
Depending on its context, the word religion can be positive or negative. For this discussion, let’s focus purely on the positive. Therefore, consider religion as framework of our faith which is comprised of church attendance, biblical studies, personal devotions, etc. However, just as the tabernacle and the temple built by Solomon were merely structures until the Spirit of God descended into and dwelt in them, so too the our religion does not become true faith until there is a relationship with our Lord and the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Keith Green once said “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.” The point is that our religious knowledge or practices do not make us Christians, but rather, the relationships that we develop with God after accepting His gift of salvation.
My office is full of pictures, or more specifically, photos of various people. All but four or five of the individuals are related to me by birth or marriage. Some of these people love me deeply and vice versa; some love and are loved from a distance; and the remaining few represent relationships that are more akin to an endurance race rather than affection. Admittedly, there are a few photos that have been discarded over time as the relationships were just too painful to be reminded of. The parable of the sower describes a similar range of affection for God. There are people who want nothing to do with their Creator. Other folks appear to start a relationship, but have no depth and quickly abandon it. Some individuals want to love God and start a relationship, but life gets hard for them and their desire along with the relationships are choked out; some of these reject God because they feel He asks too much of them. Finally, there are those that have an enduring relationship with their Heavenly Father, their Savior and the Holy Spirit. However, even there one recognizes differences in the depth of commitment. In some cases, the strength of the relationship has to do with progress in the process of sanctification while others are choosing to hold back in the relationship. Therefore, once again like the crowd of people represented by the photos in my office, the body of Christ is comprised of people who love God to some degree but keep Him at a bit of a distance; others who have some depth and maturity; and still others who are wholly devoted and have the deepest of relationships with God. This latter group holds nothing back.
The apostle Paul was one who, once converted, was devoted to Christ; He held nothing back and would one day die for his Savior. In His letter to the Roman Christians as quoted above, He discusses the way the Holy Spirit testifies to their spirits that they are children of God and heirs with Christ. These facts are evidence of relationship…a strong relationship that is growing. As Paul points out, a condition of sharing Christ’s inheritance is also sharing in His suffering. (see also 1 Peter 4:12-13, Luke 9:23-25, 2 Corinthians 1:5-7, and Philippians 1:27-29) Some suffering, such as persecution, is the direct result of faith; some suffer as missionaries taking the gospel to other countries; however, all endure the various trials of life. It is all suffering that requires us to make a choice: either we reject it and pull away from God or we are trained by it and move closer to God deepening our relationship with Him.
In the book “When God Weeps” (Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes) there are two quotes on suffering that speak volumes with respect to suffering and our relationship with God. They are as follows.
“Programs, systems, and methods sit well in the ivory towers of monasteries or in the wooden arms of icons. Head knowledge comes from the pages of a theology text. But the invitation to know God – really know Him – is always ab invitation to suffer. Not to suffer alone but to suffer with Him.”
“God uses suffering to purge sin from our lives, strengthen our commitment to him, force us to depend on grace, bind us together with other believers, produce discernment, foster sensitivity, discipline our minds, spend our time wisely, stretch our hope, cause us to know Christ better, make us long for truth, lead us to repentance of sin, teach us to give thanks in times of sorrow, increase faith, and strengthen character. It is a beautiful image.”
This is a beautiful image… the image of a loving God that loves us as we are, but is working to draw us to Himself while refining and equipping us. It is evidence of a loving relationship that is intended to last for an eternity.It is in this context that I can say that my suffering is truly a blessing. Through it I have learned that:
- God loves me and desires my love for Him
- God is in control so I don’t need to be
- God is faithful and ever present…especially in my suffering
- God is enough…He is my portion
- God fills my emptiness and bears my burdens
- God lovingly directs my suffering for good
- Just as suffering may be great, so too is God’s consolation
- There can be joy in suffering for what it produces
- My choices (including how I respond to suffering) have consequence in this life and the one to come.
As I stated earlier, it is through the trials of my life that I have moved from mere religion to a relationship with God that is deeply established. It doesn’t make the pain easier, but it has trained me to go to God in prayer looking for His guidance, instruction, grace and consolation. Regularly I pray that He would: help me to remember that He is enough; direct my path, calm my soul; bridle my tongue; help me trust His wisdom; allow me to sense His presence; and allow me to feel His love. He invites me to come to Him repeatedly and often because of my relationship with Him; I do it because I trust Him to be faithful.
Where to you stand with God? Are you religious or do you have a relationship with Him that guides your life? When trials come, do you go to the Father seeking His direction and allowing your pain to perfect you, or do you recoil in fear or anger. Be assured that God loves you and desires a deep and abiding relationship with you…He invites you to draw near.