The Transparency of Affliction

Jesus knew (personally identified with) the feelings of every infirmity that we experience (Hebrews 4:15). ‘Though He were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered’ (Hebrews 5:8). Peter said: ‘Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as though some strange thing happened unto you, But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy’ (1 Peter 4:12,13).

The book of Daniel records the familiar story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These faithful and Godly young Jewish men refused to worship the image created by Nebuchadnezzar. Some Chaldeans, hating the Jews, determined to destroy these three men by using Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. The Chaldeans reported to the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to fall down and worship the idol when the music sounded. Nebuchadnezzar was furious and commanded that the three young men be cast into a blast furnace heated seven times the normal temperature. After they were thrown into the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace and was amazed. He testified in amazement: ‘Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God’ (Daniel 3:25). We are not exempt from fiery furnaces but we have the assurance that Jesus will be with us even to the end of the age – especially in our fiery furnaces.

Our society has struggled since its origin with such issues as racism, crime, and immorality – along with the violence frequently associated with each of these. In the twentieth century America, however, we know little about being persecuted for the cause of the gospel. All of us know something about heartache. To some extent, each of us has suffered disappointment, rejection, and other forms of affliction and adversity, but as far as life-threatening or debilitating suffering for the cause of Christ, few of us have been there.

Suffering affliction can cause a person to doubt the love and care of our Heavenly Father. I often hear people ask ‘Why’ regarding their circumstances. ‘If God loves me, why does He permit the affliction I am going through?’ Affliction is not apart from the will of God but, rather, a part of it. God is more interested in getting the light shining through us than He is having us to be pain free. When Paul implored Him the third time to have his thorn to depart, the Lord Jesus said ‘My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The secret of being a powerful expression of Jesus, is to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt us in due time (1 Peter 5:6). Complaint and murmuring about the difficulty of the way only delay the process. We should look up with praise and thanksgiving and stand in faith in our times of trial. God has not deserted us. In fact, he has never been closer. We have never been more significant than when our path is the roughest.

When we learn to walk by faith in the valleys, God can trust us with the mountaintops. His grace, like water, does not accumulate on the mountaintops – only in the valleys. When we get to where the going is the roughest, there we find His grace is the greatest. I firmly believe that the degree of adversity with which we can trust God determines the level of effectual ministry with which He can trust us.

Luther Bridgers penned these words in the most difficult time of his life: when he heard that he had lost his wife and four children in a disaster:

Tho sometimes He leads thru waters deep,
Trials fall across the way,
Tho sometimes the path seems rough and steep,
See His footprints all the way.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest name I know,
Fills my ev'ry longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.
“He Keeps Me Singing by Luther Bridgers”

Glory in your tribulation, ‘knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us’ (Romans 5:3-5).

Jeff