FINDING STRENGTH AMONG SUFFERING

We, as human beings are well acquainted with the concept of suffering. The moment God knits our bodies together and breathes his life into our lungs, we are guaranteed that the ever-present shadow of sorrow and pain will follow us until our final breath. In this fallen world, one does not need to look far to find tragedy or adversity; in fact, these enemies of joy seem to crouch behind every corner, like predators ready to strike. It is easy for us to feel like we are helpless prey who cannot fight back against the weight of our trials, like defenseless lambs facing down the jaws of an indomitable dragon. It seems as though we will be burned with horrible fire and be left as nothing but ash in the wind. How can we face down our dragons and expect to come out as the victors?  

It is discouraging to suffer so often and find ourselves unable to be hopeful or to see the light of goodness on the horizon. As Christians, amid sorrow and grief, we are filled with questions, wondering why God would allow sickness to fall on the person we love or why He would allow us to go through periods of serious need and seemingly offer so little relief. In the moments that our hearts are in the deepest depths of pain, it often seems God is absent or blind to our struggle.  

In scripture we are offered much encouragement, but woven between those words of hope is a promise that we will struggle. Elijah, a prophet whose life was marked by the power and might of God was no stranger to suffering. One moment, Elijah was being used as a vessel to display the power of the Lord and destroy the prophets of Baal; the next moment, he was fleeing the wrath of the wicked queen Jezebel. Finding no strength within himself to continue, he sat beneath a bush, and in a lament that many can relate to, he asked God to take his life and end his suffering. 

At his lowest point, however, Elijah was met with the provision of the Lord. After crying out his sorrows, he fell asleep and was immediately awoken by the touch of an angel who had come to bring him food. The angel commanded him to get up and eat, so he did as commanded. Yet still, his strength failed him, so once more, the angel of the Lord commanded him to rise and eat so that he may be prepared for the journey ahead. Elijah was once more filled with the strength to move forward. In what must have been one of the most trying journeys of his life, Elijah traveled for forty days and forty nights to reach Horeb, the Mountain of God. 

Upon Horeb, the Lord visited his presence upon the prophet in a powerful way. After commanding Elijah to wait for His presence, the Lord delivered three awesome displays of power upon the mountain. He sent wind that shattered rocks in its wake, an earthquake that shook the mighty mountain, and a consuming fire that burned brightly. Yet, His presence did not come in earth-cracking power, but in a gentle whisper that Elijah immediately recognized. It was then that the prophet was given a promise and a hope. God had spared a righteous remnant from amongst His people, and promised that He would bring retribution against those who had wrought such great evil upon His people. 

Much like Elijah, when we are crushed beneath the weight of our despair, it becomes easy to lay down and give up, to cry out for the Lord to end our suffering, and yet it is in these low moments that we come to know the provision of the Lord. When you are ready to lay down and give up, to throw in the towel, the Lord is telling you to get up and eat. In the case of Elijah, the Lord physically provided him with food. For us, this food comes in the form of the Lord’s word, which nourishes us and gives us the strength for our own journeys to meet with God. For some of us that journey will last a forty days, and for others forty years, but at the conclusion of our journeys we will all find ourselves encountering the gentle whisper that carries the presence of the Lord.

When we are in pain we must listen to the Lord’s command to get up and eat. We must seek the Lord, and dig deep into His word, even when every fiber of our being is crying out to give up. We must persevere that we may find the blessings that the Lord desires to lavish upon us. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you experience trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.” (James 1:2-4) 

It is good to mourn, and sorrow is not a thing to be condemned, yet even in the midst of these, our greatest joys can be found. When we stare with fear into the dragon's jaws, we are not helpless. Do not listen to the internal voice that tells us to flee, to lay down, and to give up because resistance is futile. Instead use the greatest weapon in our arsenal. Cry out to the Lord, look deeply into His word, and have faith, because the Lord hears you, and He will provide you with strength for your journey. 

Do not lose hope because of the trials that face you in this moment. Remember always that your suffering does not make you a victim because Christ has made you a victor. As you go about your week and wrestle with new and old struggles, don’t forget the meal God has prepared for you. It is not His desire to watch you fail; He will give you the strength to continue. Get up and eat so that you can attain the victor’s crown. Your suffering is not the end but an opportunity for greater joy than you could have imagined. 

If this post comes to you as you are experiencing spirit-shaking turmoil, then I want to leave you with encouragement. Your troubles, though they threaten to consume you like fire, will not prevail, because our Lord has given us a promise. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Don’t look down, and don’t look back, but lift your eyes to the one who has conquered the world! You are in His hands, and He has not given up on His plan for you.   

- Seth Kendrick