From Wednesday of last week through this past Sunday, my wife and I were in Colorado, as the trees in the picture above shows. With the higher elevation (6,000-8,000+ feet, depending on where we were) I was having a hard time breathing throughout our stay. Two days into the trip I happened to be in Hebrews during my morning reading. The first three verses of Hebrews 12 popped off the page:
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (emphasis mine)
It’s easy to read the Bible, quote Scripture, preach it. But when we’re in the furnace, whether it’s breathing problems, a torn relationship, fear over circumstances, intense pressure, or all-out warfare, the red-hot fires of testing will reveal what we really believe and where our heart is.
Will we buckle under pressure, seek relief with a grace counterfeit such as lust, food, hobbies, sports, binging on entertainment, or some other false coping mechanism, even getting busy in ministry? Will we panic? Blow up and spray our loved ones with anger? Or worse, walk away from God, which so many are doing?
The enemy is there, waiting for the right moment to launch fear-tipped, lie-poisoned darts. “God’s not there, you’re on your own, there’s no hope for you… you might as well binge for several hours… it will feel so good to have relief, won’t it?”
Learning to be content when God places us in the furnace is a difficult stepping stone of growth on the road to eternity. We need to be equipped in these areas if we’re to persevere to the end – especially during these dark days which are getting progressively worse. Asking God what He wants us to learn during these times flips the script from hopelessness and despair to light and glory by bringing the One who offers the strength, wisdom, and discernment to persevere into the furnace with us.
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Romans 5:1-5
Be honest. Do you exult in your pain, your tribulations, your sorrow? Or do you frantically look for the exit? Do you look for the silver linings God is trying to bless you with, what He wants do, how He wants to shape your character?
Suffering toughens our character, reveals where we need healing, exposes the sin we haven’t let go of, forces us to pray consistently and fervently (always a great thing), challenges us to take up the mantle of a spiritual warrior, and opens the door to knowing God more intimately. In suffering our flesh takes a hit (if we don’t check out or turn to false comforts) and our comfort bubble gets popped, giving more room in the soul for the filling of the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
Occasionally I’ll hear a Christian say they feel really strong. While it’s nice to feel good, if we base the measure of our spiritual strength on our feelings, when the assault hits we may be more liable to collapse or check out. Our feelings can betray us in moments of suffering, especially when we feel like quitting and looking for a hit of pleasure for relief. (Your phone is not your friend in this context).
“Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin”
1 Peter 4:1
“Prepare to suffer” isn’t usually in the playbook on how to win new converts to Christ and is missing from many churches. “God has a wonderful plan for your life?” All the time. Prepare for a life of warfare, pain, and sorrow? “Oops, a text just came in. Catch you later.” A life-purpose of suffering is for those who are prepared to pay the price and go all out with God. The nice, lukewarm believers who prefer their soft seats on Sunday morning with messages that are no threat to their comfort zone may not sign up for the narrow road. When is the last time you were challenged at church to pour your life out until the end on a Sunday morning, no holds barred, no matter the cost, as Jesus poured it out for us?
Ahem, let’s not take this Jesus thing too far.
There are hidden blessings – silver linings – in your pain. If you let Him, God can use it to fashion you into a sold-out Christ follower who is a spiritual warrior that takes new ground with God for His kingdom.
Hebrews 12 finishes with a warning to those who give up and quit.
“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.”
Suffering is a part of the way of the Rogue Christian.
Keep going, never give up, be determined to pour your life out until the end.