Therefore since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude I Peter 4:1

Over the years I have spent a lot of time exploring the psalms, and what is phenomenal is that even if the psalmist begins by venting his anger on God for allowing bad things to happen to good people, he almost always concludes with worship.

I wish I could tell you that this was my response when I lost my young mother, and when my family suffered a bewildering split. My mother was the pivot around which the whole family swerved. God had dealt harshly on my family. I am the second of four children; my elder brother and the sister immediately after me, have altogether stopped any connection with me, ever since I joined the ministry. Their rational seems quite legitimate. How could you serve a God who dissipated our family to debris? In ministry, as I bring broken families together I am acutely conscious that the remnant of my own family remains demolished. Even though I cried out to God in prayer, I am afraid it was a long time after each event before I could kneel down and worship. Yet I am much more blessed then Job. He knew only the God of the crocodile (Job 41:10). I know the God of the Cross. I have to confess that despite fully accepting that there is something behind suffering, I still have some way to go in the matter of responding appropriately to it.

Anglican clergyman and noted leader of the worldwide evangelical movement, famous as one of the principal authors of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974, John Stott says ‘I sometimes wonder if the real test our hunger for holiness is our willingness to experience any degree suffering, if only thereby God will make us holy.’ I wonder too. Being a Christian does not free us from suffering. Have you ever noticed how the same thing can happen to two different people yet have an entirely different effect upon them? Sorrow and suffering will make some better while it makes others bitter. A similar position but with opposite effects. The difference is our attitude.

There were three crosses set up on the hill outside Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. The same sentence has been passed on three different people. One thief was contemptuous because Jesus did not save Himself and them. Another thief was contrite and saw his tragedy as the result of his own behavior. The third, of course was Jesus from whom flowed compassion. In the midst of his pain He saved a dying thief (Luke 23:39, 43).

O God how I long to respond to the problems of my world in the way Job responded to his. May I never forget that You are my refuge and strength and an ever present help in trouble. May I live in this Truth.