Mercies In Disguise

"Praise is the beauty of a Christian. What wings are to a bird, what fruit is to the tree, what the rose is to the thorn, that is praise to a child of God."
                                                                                                                          Charles Spurgeon

     Holidays can be tough emotionally. Sometimes we are separated from loved ones, either by distance or be eternity. At other times, we can be sorrowful because of difficult memories from holidays in our past. At the very least, we can become frazzled by the frenetic pace of all the preparations that need to be done or disappointed by the unmet expectations of the "perfect" holiday.

     Why are there so many spoilers? Why can't every holiday be like the ones in the 'happily ever after' movies? Why do loved ones have to suffer under the weight of debilitating illnesses or be separated by nations due to the ravages of war? Why are families decimated by broken relationships and sin that severs? Really, why?

     The simple explanation is that this world is covered up in darkness. Jesus said, "I have come as a Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." (John 12:46).
When we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are transformed into "sons of  Light" (John 12:36).

     Even as 'sons of Light', we still encounter many trials and tribulations (John 16:33). The narrow road of the Christian life can be frought with challenges and hardships. Joni Eareckson Tada, who is paralyzed from the neck down from a diving accident, says this, " Take those road hazards- the potholes, ruts, detours, and all the rest- as evidence that you were on the right route. It's when you find yourself on that big, broad, easy road that you ought to worry."

     We have guarantees on this road of adversity. Jesus assures us that we can have peace and that we can also walk in holiness. As the "author and perfector of [our] faith", Jesus is our example of faith and patience within God's gracious design for our lives. Even, in the midst of suffering.

     Suffering well requires receiving grace from God in humilty and with gratitude. It also requires loving God and loving others more than we are concerned about ourselves. Suffering and illness should never become our identity. This is not the example Christ set before us.

     One of the sweetest Christian ladies I have ever known died three years ago from leukemia that ultimately was debilitating. She went through Chemotherapy and weekly blood transfusions. Her heart and attitude was never for herself. It took a couple of hours each week to get the transfusion, and while she did, she seized the opportunity to share the Gospel with the healthcare workers that assisted her. Some accepted Christ as a result and others got more serious about their faith. When she was bedridden at home with Hospice, she continued to love on every person that was around her. She prayed for them and blessed them abundantly. At the very end of her life, when she moved in and out of consciousness, often her arms would raise to worship the Lord. I imagine this is exactly how she entered into heaven!

     If we consider our lives to be a pilgrimage, we recognize that even our sufferings on this earth are transient. They would still be transient even if they were to last for our entire lives. Paul is the apostle that suffered more than any other apostle. He tells us that "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." ( 2 Corinthians 4:17). All the while, we move closer and closer to our God. Whatever we are going through, we are not staying there because being "stuck" is never God's plan!

     Charles Spurgeon tells us that "through our trials God is slowly weaning us from this earth for the world beyond." Sin and suffering are not the work of God, but they are allowed within His sovereign plan. While all of universe bows to God's imminence, not all things are according to His perfect will.

     We deal with suffering by walking through it, and by knowing that we never walk alone. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble." (Psalm 46:1). Not only will He never leave us or forsake us, but He also sends us His Comforter.

     True comfort does not come from understanding why we suffer, but in knowing the One who truly understands our pain. Trials and suffering either moves us closer to God (when we choose to trust Him) or they move us further away from Him ( when bitterness invades through our questioning God's design). J.I. Packer tells us, "We should not be upset when unexpected and upsetting and discouraging things happen. God in His wisdom means to make something of us which we have not yet attained, and is dealing with us accordingly."

     How we respond to trials is what will determine our ultimate destiny in Christ. In Psalm 13, David comes to God just as he is and shares his truest feelings when he says, "How long, O Lord?" He ends the Psalm with all the things he knows to be true about God. We cannot let our emotions be seated on the throne of our hearts.

     It is possible to forsake negativity and complaining  and feast on gratitude. This comes through immersion in God's Word and in deeply understanding God's character. Even in our darkest trials, there are still things in which we can be thankful. Circumstances do not control our joy. When we re-orient our thinking to the goodness of God, our emotions will follow.

     Trials can equip us to help others. God uses the hardest stories and deepest brokenness for Him to shine His light through to minister to others. We can never learn to be a good comfortor to others until we have been afflicted. Even then, we can only comfort others with the comfort we have received. ( 2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

     God's ways are not our ways. During our deepest sorows, we do not need explanations. Rather, we need revelation. Life truly comes into focus when we recognize God's tender mercies that appear in the form of a trial. And, when we can worship in the midst of it, we are far on the road to discovering who we were created to be. During these holidays, allow praise and worship to reign supreme!


"We were created for God's pleasure. In these closing moments of this age, the Lord will have a people whose purpose for living is to please God with their lives. God finds His own reward for creating man. They are His worshipers. They are on earth only to please God, and when He is pleased, they are pleased. The Lord takes them farther and through more pain and conflicts than other men. Outwardly, they are 'smitten of God, and afflicted' , yet to God, they are His beloved. When they are crushed, like petals of a flower, they exude a worship, the fragrance of which is so beautiful and rare that angels weep in quiet awe at their surrender. They are the Lord's purpose for creation."
                                                                                                                               Francis Frangipane