When life hits us hard, we often ask why me. What did I do wrong? We dwell in the pain so much that we loose sight of the gain when it comes.
St Paul said, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. ( Philipians 1:21 )I think the death he talked about had to do with suffering in the earthly sense of it. He didn’t focus on the pain of death but the gain after death, which is the crown of glory.
Another hero of the faith is Job. He was blameless both in the eyes of God and man. Yet he went through such bitter torture that ordinary man can hardly bear. In the midst of his suffering, he could only say “…For I know that my redeemer liveth and he shall stand at the latter day.”( Job 19:25) In other words we could say, because my redeemer liveth I can face tomorrow. He is the God of a bright tomorrow. The God of providence.
The dark clouds of today are preparing us for a sunny tomorrow. It just takes a believing heart to see it.
Looking back at the liberation story, we could say it was aimless for the children of Israel to go through the wilderness after being liberated from a man made wilderness. God didn’t want to take them directly from hardship to glory. Otherwise they wouldn’t have valued it. He spent time with them in the wilderness, teaching them, giving his commands. Making them understand how dear they were to him. Preparing them for the glory of the promised land. He wanted to make them see him not only as the God of their liberation, but as the God who does wonders for those who live in obedience and not only that, but to tell their children about the redemption power of Yaweh.( Exodus 20:2 ) Going through the wilderness was a necessary pain for they who would finally reach the promised land.
In life when the most unexpected happens to us, it is normal that we may ask why and why. But when we think of the gain, we can rather ask, why not me. As humans it is not easy to instantly accept certain trials, but we are motivated by the example of the great heroes of the faith, Job, Hannah, the Apostles and our savior Jesus Christ. The death of Christ on the cross was a very painful journey he took. The only journey that necessitated the redemption of mankind from the bondage of sin. The suffering of Christ was for the gain of his followers. No greater love than this. For a man to die for his friend.
As believers we can elect to go through pain for the benefit of other believers. The pain we go through would not always be only to benefit us. It may entirely benefit others around us, yet that does not make it irrelevant. It is so common to hear someone say, I suffered this and that just for you….. Jesus did same, the apostles did same and that’s why the gospel spread. We can only regret if the pain we go through doesn’t benefit us or those around us at the end, and that will mean condemnation. For not all pain leads to gain if the orientation of the pain is not Christ centered.
This is to mean that there is useful and irrelevant pain. Useful pain brings to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of God’s power. Irrelevant pain is that we bear due to our evil thoughts and works and it brings God’s judgment. At other times, the pain we have to go through can be considered correction unto righteousness. Our God is the same chastening God who corrects us because he loves us.
What pain have you been going through? Can you clearly say it will bring a great reward? Or are you scared it can bring God’s judgment on you? We are called upon to choose our pain wisely. Haha. Sounds funny right? But pain is the way of life for every believer. Pain is one necessary ingredient that tests our faith. Without pain, we won’t know how mature we have become in the Christian journey. The growth process must be continuous and pain is the only tests we take to ascertain this growth.
May we remain blessed as we trust God for a deeper insight to the wilderness seasons he puts us through in our walk with him.