Worship in Trial

How much can be endured? Why must we suffer at all? Last night after church service, one of the elders of the church gathered some others to pray for me because I had shared that a recent mammogram had shown some density that needs to be re-imaged. (See - James 5:14)  It’s been almost 16 months now that I’ve been treated for lung cancer with chemo, surgery, radiation and more chemo. After sharing this brief summary with one of these fine gentlemen he said, “Are you the daughter of Job?”

Not so amazingly to me anymore, the daily devotional I received in my email this morning was about the book of Job, chapter 1 to be specific. Job was being tested in his faith and in the process this man of great wealth lost all his sons and daughters, livestock and servants. His response is awesome! The scriptures say he "tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:20-21)

The scriptures are jammed packed with figures from history that have endured many trials. Hebrews 11 illustrates the lives of prophets, kings and everyday people who were mocked, put in chains, stoned, sawn in two, tortured and so on for the sake of the gospel; because they saw in their hearts the God that was yet unseen with the naked eye. They desired “…a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:16) There is a tendency to look to these martyrs as our example to the point of forgetting Christ alone is the example of faith to follow. May it never be! Yet, such sacrifice made for the sake of Jesus is inspiring and looking at the suffering Job endured has been especially meaningful to me. His trial drew him closer to the Lord and much less dependent on the things of the world. How needful it’s been to find deeper peace of mind and spirit as the body I’ve known for many years is altered by drugs and incisions. Wisdom and true perspective on the point of life has certainly been the best by-product of suffering in the flesh.

The word of God says this: “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2) The point of life for all of us is to live in the will of God. Because of our pride He must tear us down to build up His life in us so He can work through us to reach others. Without doubt I’m a far cry from reaching the point of total submission to the Lord. There remains far too much that I try to control and pride is subtle. Admittedly I can’t do without the Holy Spirit operating through God’s Word and fellowship with His people to rein me in, tame my tongue and change my mind to be more like Christ. Oh, how I want to be more like Him – to press on toward the upward call of God. It is so much better than being tethered to a world that is most evidently passing away.

A friend of ours named Kyle Peart told me the other night “It’s good for you to die, but not good for those who don’t know Christ.” If I didn’t know the God of my salvation that statement might have offended me but I do know Him and understood exactly what Kyle meant – not that I should die but should in effect adopt the attitude Paul expressed: “to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak.” 1 Corinthians 9:17-27 The best attitude is contentment in all circumstances and a heart of worship. This can be done because Jesus in the “heavenly country” is the focal point; the prize that awaits. He so wants to have vessels that are pliable and fit for His use to declare with tears at times, “my God is mighty to save.”    

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