Thoughts for another day

March 13, 2007

Today's verse: Ps. 41:12. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God is a merciful God and He is always with us. But, in life, there are times He tries us. He seems to move away and we tread from one step of trouble to another. In saying this let me add that God will never try us beyond our strength… 1 Cor. 10:13. Our response in those dark and scary moments is what speaks of our integrity with God.

How often, when tried, we fall. How often we find the situation of deep affliction controlling us and we hardly remember God’s Word. Yes, I understand at that moment, our focus is on the pain, which is natural. But my friend, we are not called to be in the natural if we want to enjoy the blessings our Father in heaven sends us. Rather we are called to look upon His face so that His radiance is reflected on our faces and hold fast to His promises.

The challenge before us Christians is to welcome despair, hurt and pain in whatever measure He sends us. Remember through these moments alone, He can check whether we trust Him. An elderly woman I visited long ago, was suffering from cancer in her whole body. Yet, she used to get up, sit and pray for others with cancer, undergoing excruciating pain herself. I asked her how she managed. Smiling through that pain wracked face she told me, ‘Brother, in my pain I can see the pain of those people who suffer from cancer. I am pained more by their pain than mine. How then can I not sit up and pray for them? Didn’t Jesus pray for me on that cross?’

My friend the lesson I learned that day I’ll never forget. She passed away long ago, but her words will always remain in my mind. Before my being, I could see her integrity with her God and my God. I am reminded of my own inadequacy before God when I think of her and shame engulfs me. Have I been selfless like her? Do I accept the will of God in the suffering He gives me? Questions to which, answers are difficult to give, not because I don’t know them, but because they show me the ‘real me’.

But I know, if and when I have passed the test, He will set me before Him, to behold Him in all His glory. Then, wouldn’t all the pain in the world have been worth it?