CHAPTER 37
"Standing"
Yesterday a
very dear friend told me about a terrible trial in her
family. The trial involves the loss of her only vehicle and
means of getting to work. It also involves the possible loss
of her oldest child. It's enough to break any person's heart!
She said that she keeps thinking about how we have dealt
with our personal trials. She wondered how we were able to
get through them and seem so at peace.
I told her
that there were two things that have helped. First, for my
entire life I have been taught to believe in God's
sovereignty. He is in control! If He want's to keep tragedy
from occurring He simply wills it so. He is also LOVE so
whatever He allows in our lives somehow fits within His
perfect plan for us and is meant for our benefit. That
doesn't mean we are happy with all of life's circumstance,
just that we are at peace with God about them. We don't
understand Andrea's plight and the "why" of it all. But
worrying wont' change it. Getting depressed won't either.
Accepting life's trials as somehow fitting within God's
perfect plan for our lives is the only way we can continue
trusting Him. It is the only way we can still be at peace
with God which is our heart's desire.
Secondly, I
told her that having many friends to share our great burden
with has also been a healing balm. To internalize our pain
would result in misery and darkness. From the start I began
to journal our trial and have provided a way for people to
respond to us with their own feelings and faith. This
website has been a valuable tool to help with my personal
healing. People need people! The Body of Christ is all about
dealing with tragedy. If one member of the Body hurts the
healthy parts of the Body should naturally minister to the
hurting part. It not only speeds the healing but it
strengthens the Body as a whole.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered
by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is
not quickly broken. A living illustration of
this principle is found in Daniel 3 where the 3 Hebrew boys
stood for what was right in the face of a threat on their
lives. They refused to bow their knee to an idol and were
cast into a fiery furnace. The fire was so hot that it
killed the guards that cast them in. But Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abed-Nego were not harmed by the flames. God divinely
protected them. While it is possible for one man to stand
alone (example: Daniel and the lion's den) there is strength
in numbers.
The night
of Andrea's accident was a defining moment in this ordeal.
Over 100 people stood with us in that emergency room letting
us know that we were not alone. God's people are called to
minister to and edify those who are hurting. Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for
adversity. Some of us are more sympathetic than
others but all believers need to learn how to empathize with
others.
There is a
passage in Hebrews that deals with God's chastening. While
not all trial and tribulation is the direct result of God's
chastening the principle mentioned in relationship to it
holds true for every trial. Hebrews 12:12-13 Therefore
strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
13and make straight paths for your feet, so that
what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
If one
person tries to stand under the weight of a heavy burden
they may be crushed. If a couple of others join him under
that weight it becomes easier. The passage in Ecclesiastes
mentioned about says that a threefold cord is not
quickly broken. The strength of a rope is more than
tripled when three cords are woven together. In fact the
strength of such a rope is amazingly multiplied.
Paul was
beyond a doubt a man of great faith and peace. He was also a
man that endured great trials. 2Corinthians 11:23-27
Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more:
in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in
prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24From
the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was
stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I
have been in the deep; 26in journeys often, in
perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own
countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the
city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in
perils among false brethren; 27in weariness and
toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in
fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
How was he
so strong? Paul didn't stand alone. He always had one or two
fellow ministers with him. He had churches all over Asia
Minor and other places praying for him, corresponding with
him and even traveling out to meet with him. Paul had a
personal doctor at his side. He seemed to always have a
secretary to write letters for him. He had younger men with
him he was training for the ministry. Paul was not alone. He
shared his burdens and trials with others. He stood, but he
didn't stand alone!
God's
formula for standing in the midst of trials is to cling to
each other. We are a family, not a lone individual. We are
an army, not a single soldier standing in a battle without
any support. We are a building, not a single useless brick.
Together we can tare down strongholds. Together we can move
mountains. Together we can stand against our adversaries:
world, flesh & devil! Share your burdens with fellow
believers. Let others support you when you are weak. You
will have a lot of opportunity to repay the favor. That's
what brothers and sisters do.
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