“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have had just about enough! I have had just about enough of the backbiting and fighting between parties in Washington! I have had enough of the “unpeaceful” rioting that I see in our nation. I have had enough of hatred or racism between people of different color, and I sure have had enough of this lousy virus called COVID!!
Nobody likes to suffer from anything. Most people don’t even like to see other people suffering, and the consensus is that we all wish no one had to go through any pain.
That’s why many people end up questioning if there really is a God or if there is, how could He possibly love us? Some could go as far as reasoning that if God existed, then what good would it do to be around Him later, if He is willing to allow us to suffer so much now?
The problem with this thinking is that we fail to look at our part in the suffering. Did God create such animosity between our two parties in Washington? The answer is definitely not! The animosity comes from people justifying hatred for one another, due to the fact that they disagree.
Did God whisper in the ears of people to go out and loot and hurt people who are trying to protect their businesses? Again, the answer is definitely not! That comes from a lack of respect for people and even a loss of love for humanity, which is at the root of racism as well.
I can tell you that God does not condone or accept any justification of hating someone because of the color of their skin.
Did God cause COVID as punishment? Again, I say, I think not. My guess is that is has everything to do with our not taking care of the world, or it could be something as evil as people intentionally wanting to destroy someone else.
In other words, it is our sin that creates the suffering we continue to experience. Don’t you just get tired of it all, and want it all to end?
I have good news for you today my friend! God knows our suffering! As a matter of fact, God sent a remedy to this earth over 2000 years ago that will be the cure for all suffering! That remedy is Jesus who gave His life for all sin, no matter what it is!
So, what does that mean for those of us who go through suffering now? It means that we already have a remedy, and we will ultimately have our final remedy! What I mean by that, is that because of the resurrection, Jesus lives with those who believe in Him now, and He will see us through any trial or any suffering.
And I also mean that when we face the final suffering of death, He has already promised and given us eternal life! So, no matter, what, the suffering will end. That’s what believers who go through suffering remember, and that’s what Paul was saying in the above Scripture. In essence he might say like the old song says, “I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me he hath made known, nor why, unworthy, Christ in love, redeemed me for his own.”
Or I might say I know not why Covid still exists, or racism causes such pain, I know not when they will get along, . . . in Washington or at home, but like Paul said above, one thing I do know is “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
In other words, I know He has the last say, and on that day when I see Him in heaven, then I will no longer just wish that all suffering would end!
(Editor’s Note: This column is written by a different Littlefield pastor for the Leader-News each week. The columns are published on this page on Wednesdays.)