“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him…”
Some time ago, I had a wonderfully hopeful conversation with an older saint who has known and continues to know significant difficulty and suffering in her life.
There was one phrase she used that was incredibly powerful. A phrase that can change, if we take it in faith, the manner in which we move through seasons of difficulty in life. Here’s what she said:
“God has trusted me with this.”
Consider, for a moment, some of the other phrases we might use during a prolonged time of sickness, trouble, anxiety, or suffering:
- Why is God allowing this to happen?
- What am I supposed to do now?
- When will it be over?
I’m sure you could add your own statements to the list. And each phrase is a valid expression of our feelings at a given moment. No doubt, they can and should be expressed to the Lord. At the same time, the phrase she has chosen to adopt reflects a different and more mature way to look at things.
Hers is a statement of stewardship. A stewardship of experience.
We often think of stewardship in terms of money. And that’s not wrong – surely the Bible teaches that we have been financially entrusted with funds, and it’s our job to manage them well for the sake of the kingdom of God. (Philippians 1:29)
But this kind of stewardship is bigger than that. We are all stewards of experience. Both good and bad; comfortable and difficult.
The word “granted” seems like the wrong word, doesn’t it? Because “granted” seems to indicate a kind of privilege. That puts a whole new spin on difficulty because from this verse, it sounds as if in Paul’s mind, suffering is something that is entrusted to us.
You see, God “grants” us circumstances in our lives. We are to learn from them, mature from them, and use them to comfort those in similar circumstances.
With this in mind, we might do well to consider:
“Why has God entrusted this experience to me?”
Or this financial difficulty?
Or this cancer?
Or this difficult relationship?
Or fill in the blank _____________?
These aren’t just questions, my friends. In asking God, they become statements that recognize God’s love and sovereignty in our circumstances. Statements of faith in a God who is beyond what is visible and experiential – of confidence in a God who has already proven His love for us at the cross of Jesus.
What about you?
Can you make statements of faith?
Would you like to?
Written by Michael Kelley, Guest Contributor
To read more of Michael’s writing, check out his daily blog, Forward Progress http://michaelkelley.co/
DIG DEEPER
“Read “Faithfulness + Challenge = Victory” by Bryant Wright
