The Living Word: Why am I suffering?
By Leora Schmidt
thelivingword@mail.com
Mildred was bedridden and suffered incredible pain from a disability. One day when I visited she told me with awe in her voice about the preceding night. She had been in torturous pain that seemed impossible to endure, yet through it all as she prayed she felt the presence of Jesus that overrode the pain.
This world is filled with pain-racked people all around us, in our families, and most likely in our own lives even as we read this. Pain comes in so many forms. It’s the human lot ever since sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden. That’s the only answer to the ‘why’ of suffering.
There are many lessons we can learn from pain. One woman confessed that she wanted to be totally submissive to the Lord and of service in a powerful way, so she prayed that the Lord would use her talents in the way He saw best. Unexpectedly, soon after her prayer she was stricken and became bedfast. She told anyone who expressed pity, “I prayed to be useful to the Lord, and at first wondered how I could be useful shut away from everyone. Then I realized that I had plenty of undisturbed time to pray. I am so full of joy to know that I can be of service for the Lord right here, and I would not exchange my lot for anything.” She spent hours daily praying for many people by name, knowing that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (woman) availeth much.” (James 5:16)
One of the most valuable, long lasting results of suffering is what it produces. Suffering can produce submission and obedience to God. The psalmist, after personal suffering expressed the following insights: “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.””It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.””I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” Psalm 119:67, 71, 75
Joni Tada, who became a paraplegic from a diving accident many years ago as a teenager, suffers continual pain that she must daily surmount by an act of the will. Her example has been an encouragement and comfort to many who suffer. She sums it up thus: “Suffering is a textbook that teaches us who we really are.” Then she points her listeners to God as the great sustainer.
My dear suffering friend who may feel isolated by your personal pain, you can look to the apostle Paul, who knew much suffering. He pointed to God as the “Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Who comforts us in all our tribulations.” He adds that in turn we can comfort others because we have been comforted. (Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
Finally, the psalmist wrote a prayer for you and me as we suffer. “Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted” (Ps. 25:16).
Blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby wrote:
Dear Jesus, canst Thou help me?
My soul is full of woe;
My heart is almost breaking,
I’ve nowhere else to go.
Refrain:
I’ve nowhere else to go,
Dear Jesus, but to Thee,
And so I lift my voice and cry,
Have mercy, Lord on me.