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| When Push Comes to Shove, Will I Still Praise Him? |
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Cancer has returned to someone in our church, after she had fought it for a while and gotten better. Now it is in her lymph nodes. The news does not look good for her, but she has a positive spirit. I have asked myself on numerous occasions, how will I react if I am given those words…‘you have cancer‘? Will I have a positive spirit? Will I scream and argue with God over why this is happening to me? It is easy to praise God when things are going well. But how do we keep doing it when things are going bad?
Every time someone I care about goes through something, either an illness or a difficult time in their lives, I have a hard time praising God about it. I think we are all like that to a certain extent. I am currently reading the book of Job, and that poor man really had it all thrown at him. And God just let it happen, even though I realize there was a whole different spiritual battle going on, it is still hard to understand why God didn’t come to his rescue. I know that eventually he was blessed beyond comparison, because he stood firm in his respect and love towards God, even though he might have been crying out to God in anger.
Reading Job can be painful. If you make it to the end, and understand the principles it can teach, you can glean a lot from it and learn some valuable lessons.
Here is a list of things that appears in the NIV Student Bible that the book of Job teaches about suffering:
1. Some suffering is caused by Satan (as we see in Job).
2. God is all powerful and good. 3. Suffering doesn’t always come as a result of sin. 4. God will reward and punish fairly in a final judgment after death. 5. God does not condemn doubt and despair. 6. No one person has all the facts about suffering (I.e. all of the struggles being waged in heaven). 7. God is never totally silent. 8. Well intentioned advice can sometimes do more harm than good. 9. God asks for faith. 10. Suffering can be used for a higher good.
I think the hardest to understand is the faith part. I tend to lose faith when things go bad…yet that is when God demands that we keep the faith. That we trust in him without any doubts, no matter how bad it gets. Am I strong enough in my faith to do that even in the worst of times?
I can honestly say that I am not sure. I know that I used to not be strong enough, but I have grown spiritually a lot since then. Yet receiving a death sentence, much like cancer is for so many people, I don’t know if I can still keep my faith strong. While I am prepared to go to Heaven, I am not ready to go just yet. Nor do I want to go through the suffering that cancer causes.
No matter what happens to me in the future, I cannot imagine my life without God in it. I may get angry at Him, I may wonder why He does the things He does, or doesn't do some things I think He should (like curing someone of cancer), but I know beyond a doubt that He is my God, and Jesus is His Son, whom he sent to save us. I know He has forgiven me of all the things I have done wrong, and that He loves me. No matter what happens in this life, I know where I will be in the next.
In God, whose word I praise,
In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:4 |
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Deb,
I have thought on this many times before. I have questioned "If God NEVER did another thing for me, would I still praise Him?" I think that in the midst of it all, It would be hard. But that is where our roots come in. Where are our roots planted? I've been taught that we are to put the Word of God in us when we don't necessarily need it, so it will be there when we do. (Pastor Tommy Burchfield) If a tree is deeply planted, no matter how hard the wind might blow and the rain might fall, it will not waiver. The deeper the roots, the steadier the tree! |
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Deb,
I enjoyed your blog. In a day when unfortunately the health and wealth gospel has such influence, you have a very biblical view of suffering. I will be praying for your friend. |
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Kathy |
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August 27, 2007 at 3:14pm |
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| Good blog, Deb, and a great question. It's so much easier to tell everyone else to keep on praising God. And then something happens to us . . . Here's my blog on the same issue: Where Is God When I'm Hurting? |
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| Deb, I appreciate your thoughts on this. The question of why good people suffer (while bad people prosper) is one for the ages, and has often nagged at me too. I recently read through Job in order to better identify with a Job-like person in my life -- oh the pain! On the one hand I am so glad I am the one praying for her, and not needing those prayers myself. But on the other, I see how God strengthens her and glorifies himself through her suffering. I long for that too -- though humbly, not sure I could be as strong as she. It is a special person that glorifies God through their suffering! ~mike |
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Dave |
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August 27, 2007 at 3:56pm |
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This life is 100+ Years at best, Eternal Life is Just that Eternal it forever. The sooner we relize that this body we have is not the one that inherits heaven the better off we are. Eat Proper and take care of it but when its going down hill fast Rejoice because that means if your saved that the Spirit goes Up to be with the Lord. "O Death Where is your Sting" Its gone becasue we know we are in the Hands of God. What better place to be. When I go I hope they put on my tomb stone, "Go Home Sucker I'm Not Here" I hope my loved ones throw a party because I cant wait to finish the race! That does not mean I wont enjoy what the Lord provides me when I am here, but I know I am all ready seated with my Jesus in the Heavenlys.
Its Great To Be Saved! |
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Deb |
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August 27, 2007 at 6:54pm |
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Tabitha, I liked what you said....Where are our roots planted? I've been taught that we are to put the Word of God in us when we don't necessarily need it, so it will be there when we do. This is excellent advice, and why I continue to try to soak up as much about the bible as I can. It seems I can't learn enough, and every study that I take part in gives me some new perspective. Thank you for your comments.
Pastor Tim, thanks for your comments and prayers.
Kathy, I have read your blog about Where is God...but I took another look at it just to refresh my memory. You said it much better than I ever could. I liked this perhaps best of all...His plan is that we will spend all of eternity in His presence, and none of these earthly struggles will have any ultimate significance, except perhaps how we used them to grow closer to Him. That is it in a nutshell. The most important thing is that we grow closer to Him, whatever the circumstances. Thanks for your comments.
Mike, I have seen so many people glorify God through suffering. Maybe that is just what they do when people are watching...I don't know how things are behind closed doors. I humbly hope that I will be able to glorify God no matter what I have to go through, and at all times.
Dave, it is indeed great to be saved!! It is wonderful knowing where we will be after this life is over. Thanks for commenting! |
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Amber |
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August 28, 2007 at 10:10am |
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| Deb, you always have great blogs! As you know, I (along with Brad and Jonah) have been through a lot. Of course Jonah has gone through the struggles physically, while Brad and I have gone through the struggles mentally and emotionally which are usually physically draining. The past 3 1/2 years have been tough. There's been times when I question God, and times when I've had enough, but like I wrote in my blog http://www.mychurch.org/blog/38445/We-will-always-have-FAITH-in-God I will not give up. I have only become closer to God because of these struggles and trials and will continue to grow closer to Him through the good times and the bad times. I'm not sure who the Church member is, but I will pray for her. Thank you Deb. |
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Deb |
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August 28, 2007 at 11:07am |
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| Amber, I know you and Brad have been through more struggles than anyone should have to go through with Jonah. I remember a while back you sang a solo...I can't remember the name of the song, but one of the verses was "I will walk through the fire if You want me to". I kept thinking to myself while you were singing it, "I can't believe she is singing that song and not breaking down in tears". I was crying through it, knowing all that you guys have gone through. My faith, like yours, is such a part of my life now, I can't imagine being without it. And I do believe that even during the tough times, I will only grow closer to God. I know how much you guys love Jonah, and he is lucky to have you as parents. I have been praying for you and the new baby you will have, and I hope things go well for you. Thanks for your comments. |
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Amber |
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August 28, 2007 at 12:55pm |
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Deb,
The song is "If You Want Me To", by Ginny Owens. And I was close to crying, but I knew I needed to get through the song so others could hear the words. I know the only way I didn't cry was from God's strength and peace he gave me that Sunday morning. :)
Like you said about your faith, "I can't imagine being without it" and I feel the same way. :) |
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| Deb, I have had a couple of very busy days, so I am just getting caught up on some of the posts. I just read through this one. These things are unexplainable. No explanation will help us to understand. We can pray, we can draw closer to Him and to each other, we can offer support, but we all approach death faster than any of us really want to...some a little faster than others. One thing we are reminded of is to hold each day as precious, each moment as special, and never let a day go by without loving someone somewhere cause that is what He would do and that is His will. Selah. |
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Deb |
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August 29, 2007 at 10:33am |
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Amber, thanks for giving me the title. That song was just beautiful, and you have such a lovely voice. You no doubt spoke to others in the congregation like you did to me, by singing that song. Thank you.
DC, great advice. Sometimes I catch myself getting upset about something, and I remind myself that it isn't worth it to be upset. When this life is over and it is all said and done, the insignificant happenings on this earth will not matter at all. What will matter is our relationship with the Lord. Thanks for your comments. |
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