"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
(I Peter 4:12-13)
I have thought on these verses often. It is a great encouragement to me to hear that, yes, it is "okay" to go through suffering. The fact that suffering is in my life does not mean something is wrong. (That is a thought trap I often fall into it... I end up feeling that if it hurts, there must be something I am missing that would fix it.)
That is not what I want to focus on tonight though. These verses caught my attention in a whole new way today.
We often let ourselves go down the wrong "thought-track". A correct way of thinking, which means looking at our situation in the way that God sees it, is essential to living our life for Him. Period. Every other pattern of thought ends up coming back to "self" in one way or another, be it ever so subtle.
Today was a hard day. I have been suffering with vertigo for 5 1/2 weeks now. It is not the type of vertigo that comes and goes. It is continuous. No dizzy spells, just one, long, solid dizzy feeling.
Today was hard because I am trying to get better, but it is not happening. Basic daily tasks have become difficult. Today was harder than most. Most days I can shower and I am okay. Today it did me in for the entire day. I couldn't take a step comfortably. I felt pretty awful.
The temptation, or thought-trap, for me in all of this, is to say, "I need to get better. I need to be able to take care of myself and my family again. God needs to see this need and help me!" (And, indeed, I do pray for God to help me get better, every day, and I am not better. Today I even wonder if it has gotten worse!)
Then the Lord brings such beautiful verses to me. "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you..." I am not to look at it that way! God says not to, but to rejoice!
I always stop at the "rejoice" part. Rejoice, Lord? Really? About what, and HOW?
But, today, I see.
"But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
I see that it is not about today. It is not about my vertigo, or any other sufferings that may come to me in life. It is about what Christ has done.
Whether we are facing suffering or not, we have a choice. We can look at what Christ has done, and know He is enough, or we can look at ourselves. When I am in the middle of a very difficult day, "life" is not about that difficulty. The God of all the earth has chosen me, and made me His child. If, in his care of me, He brings me through a path of suffering, would I change anything even if I could? The honest answer is, no. What could I change? As a loving Father, this is what He has brought me to. It is so lovely to be His child, that (even though I may face suffering), would I really leave this place? To leave would be to reject His plan, to say no to the One who loves me so much that He gave His Son to die and purchase my redemption!
We have to look at this world in light of what God defines as truth. The simple fact is, He has called me His own dear child, and in doing so, he has also called me to this life. Would I really say "no" to that, if I could? If I were, I would be saying "no" to Him!
I would much rather be remembering that the path my Savior walked on this earth was also one of suffering. And, as the promise in verse 13 proclaims, there is the bright hope of exceedingly joy at His return!
Now I understand the "rejoice", just a little bit better. :)
Lord, teach me more.
