Into the Furnace

[The Midweek Encounter is a ministry of Encounter Church in Kentwood, MI. These posts are reflections on Sunday's message, which can be heard here each week: http://myencounterchurch.org/#/messages-media]

Many of us have heard the saying that “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” We often use these words to offer comfort to others in a time of sorrow or suffering, but are they really true? As Christians, can we honestly say to one another that God gives you just enough sorrow and pain so that you don’t get pushed to the edge?

As we read this week in 1 Kings 19, Elijah was fleeing from the threats of Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife. He ran into the wilderness to escape the hand of Jezebel, but also to attempt to flee God’s presence. He prayed that the Lord might take his life—Elijah was on the edge and ready to jump. He had reached a point that seemed so desperate and helpless that death was the only answer.

God gave Elijah more pain than he could handle, and it was in this moment that the Lord showed up. Instead of comforting Elijah with words or empty sayings, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and simply said: “Get up and eat.” God provided the much-needed nourishment of breakfast to sustain Elijah through his difficult journey. After Elijah rested once more, the angel appeared again and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” This time Elijah was strengthened and continued his journey, finally arriving at Horeb, the mountain of God.

During Elijah’s most vulnerable moments, even when he had given up on his own life, God reached down and merely offered him something to eat. This simple comfort amidst extreme suffering was the turning point for Elijah. The angel also recognized that Elijah could not handle the journey alone; he needed help along the way to strengthen and sustain him.

God recognizes when we have reached the edge, and it is during those times when He shows up in our lives—often in the form of family or friends. While I have dealt with pain in my life, my suffering seems like nothing compared to the sorrows I have seen my family and friends go through: loss of a loved one, depression, bankruptcy, and terminal illness to name a few. Standing on the outside looking in is often difficult—we don’t know what to say or do and are afraid of offending or of being vulnerable.

However, as we saw illustrated in Elijah’s story, God calls us to purely be with our brothers or sisters in suffering. Whether that means cooking a meal, saying a silent prayer, or listening with an open heart, we might not know which is best. But in those moments, God shows up with us in the furnace and offers healing, peace, and redemption.

Photo Credit: Flickr user erix!, Creative Commons

1 Peter 5:10-11, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Maybe we need to reconsider how we view fellow Christians and human beings during their intense times of pain and suffering. Instead of simply offering empty words and clichés like “God will never give you more than you can handle”, maybe we are called to step into the furnace with our brothers and sisters during their darkest times in life.

Who do you know that simply needs a brother or sister to walk into the furnace with them today? Pray that God opens your heart and eyes to see what He sees, that you might listen to the Holy Spirit’s calling and jump into the furnace with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

[Megan Stephenson is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University and works for a private education group in Grand Rapids as an Assistant Registrar. She loves spending time with her husband, Ben, trying out new breweries, restaurants, and local attractions. She also self-identifies as a crazy cat lady, despite owning no cats of her own, thanks to her loving and allergic husband.]

Why Do We Suffer?

[The Midweek Encounter is a ministry of Encounter Church in Kentwood, MI. These posts are reflections on Sunday's message, which can be heard here each week: http://myencounterchurch.org/#/messages-media]

When hard times come--illness, losing a job, a family member or friend passing away, or any number of difficult, painful experiences--the question of why usually follows close behind. Whether it’s our own difficulty or someone else’s, we want there to be a purpose for it, and we grapple with how to understand why it’s happening. Often, we go for the easiest answer, but the book of Job shows us that the easiest answers aren’t always the truest answers when it comes to suffering.

Photo Credit: Flickr User sszdl, Creative Commons

In the beginning of the book of Job, we learn that Job was “blameless and upright,” and was a wealthy man in his time. Verses 2-3 say:

He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

Very quickly things go downhill for Job. By the end of the first chapter, all of Job’s children and servants had been killed and all his livestock had either been killed or stolen. When Job’s friends show up, they give Job easy answers for why he is suffering--clearly there was sin in his life and God was disciplining him, or perhaps his children had sinned and brought death upon themselves because of it. Job, however, will have none of it. Repeatedly he tells his friends of his innocence and grapples with why God is allowing terrible things to happen to a good person such as himself.

So why did Job suffer then? Why do we suffer?

It would be simpler if God sat down with Job and listed all the reasons Job had suffered and how God was now using that suffering in a bigger way.

God doesn’t do that though.

Instead, he pretty much tells Job, “I’m God.” Job 38:1-2 reads:

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:   “Who is this that obscures my plans     with words without knowledge?

There are two different ways we can read this and, in turn, respond to suffering. The first is to see God’s reply as callous, and not much of a reply at all. It doesn’t come across as very compassionate or loving, and doesn't seem to acknowledge any of the pain Job has been going through. Does God really not care that Job is hurting? Why is his first reply to point out that Job doesn't know what's really going on, instead of God telling Job about the plan so Job might glean some understanding? This response can lead us to lash out at God in anger, blaming him for our pain, questioning why he isn’t acting the way we expected him to, and ultimately moving away from him. It’s natural to wonder why God, whom we believe to be powerful enough to stop it and good enough to want to stop it, won’t stop it.

The second way to respond is to follow the example of Job. He certainly questioned God and lamented the suffering he was experiencing, but the difference is that it was all directed towards God, not away from him. Job got angry, he questioned God, and he didn’t understand why things were happening, but instead of allowing his questions to move him away from God, he took those questions back to God. When God replied, Job listened. Job's first response, chapter 30 verses 4 and 5, is almost an apology to God:

“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
I spoke once, but I have no answer—
twice, but I will say no more.”

As unsatisfying an answer as it may be, Job gets it--God is God, and Job is a man. God is God, and we are humans. Our "whys" may never make sense in this lifetime, which isn't a neat, tidy answer that takes away the pain and heartache of suffering. Ultimately though, God is redeeming the world and all our pain and suffering along with it, even if it doesn't seem that way when we're in the thick of it. If we're willing to lean into God during hard times, we may not find understanding, but we may find more of God. 

[Brianna DeWitt believes in Jesus, surrounding yourself with good people, and that desserts are best when they involve chocolate and peanut butter. She writes about faith, growing up, and whatever else pops into her head on her own blog, and tweets (largely about food) at @bwitt722.]