Read James 1:2-4, Job 1 (especially vs. 20-22), Acts 5:40-42, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
If you've been in the church very long, you've probably heard your fair share of sermons on suffering. The verses I've listed above are the texts usually focused on, and the overall message from them is the same. We know from James 1:2-4 that we are to rejoice in trials, because they bring about perseverance and growth. Job's reaction in Job 1 serves as an example of praising God in the midst of suffering. We see in Acts 5 that the disciples rejoiced after they had been beaten for preaching the Gospel, because they had been counted as worthy to suffer for Jesus. And finally in 2 Corinthians 12, we see that Paul rejoices in his weakness and affliction, because God's grace is sufficient for him and God's power is perfected in his weakness.
These verses paint a totally different picture of suffering than we see in our world today. Christians know they're supposed to rejoice in suffering like the apostles and boast in weakness like Paul, but we seldom see them actually do this (though they sometimes do when the trial is over). Many non-Christians will point to suffering in the world as the reason they don't believe in God. How do you begin to understand famine, abuse, poverty, murder, incurable diseases, rape, death....? Are the lessons taught in these verses on suffering realistic or attainable for ordinary people? Should we even take them seriously or just admit that it's impossible to have such an attitude in the face of tragedy?
Because I believe that every verse in Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16), these verses on suffering can't be dismissed as irrelevant or impractical. We must remember that the apostles and Job were just ordinary people like you and me. Jesus' followers were able to rejoice in suffering because they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They had a kingdom perspective, remembering that their hope was in Christ. No matter what happened to them, they knew God was in control. They didn't question His purposes, because they knew His way was always right.
I want to introduce you to a man named Matt Chandler. He is 35 years old, has 3 small children, and pastors a church in the Dallas area. On Thanksgiving day, Matt collapsed with a seizure. He was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer and has been given 2-3 years to live. Unfortunately, tragedies like this occur all the time to non-Christians and Christians alike. However, this instance is unique in that Chandler has put Scripture into practice. This diagnosis tested his faith in an enormous way. Most people would question God, turn their back on Him, respond in anger, etc. Chandler's response is, "We never felt — still have not felt — betrayed by the Lord or abandoned by the Lord." During his radiation treatments, he reflects on Scripture passages. He continues to preach powerful sermons on Sundays.
As a result of this trial, thousands have been touched and stunned by his diagnosis and subsequent faithful response. Over 50,000 people have joined a Facebook group entitled, "Praying for Matt Chandler," and the Associated Press has covered the story which appeared in newspapers across the nation. Is God being glorified? Absolutely! Is this easy for Chandler and his family? Of course not. In the article, the reporter writes, "
I use Matt as an example, not to glorify him in any way, but to bring glory to the Lord. God would not give you teaching in His Word that is unattainable in real life. He gives you the strength and power to endure hardship through His Spirit. The natural response to suffering is anger, but God says it should be joy. Suffering and tragedy should not alter your faith in God in the slightest, because it doesn't change who He is. Our faith is not based on circumstances but on God's Word. I hope you are encouraged by the faithful example of Matt and also challenged to follow his example in your own trials, however big or small they may be in comparison to his~
You can check out the full article on Matt Chandler at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100131/ap_on_re/us_rel_the_pastor_s_cancer_1
