Category: struggle

One of the statements I memorized in my high school days was this: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”

We know God’s mind is far greater than ours and His ways are much higher than ours, so how do we bring Him glory? I thought the best way for God to receive glory in sickness was for Him to heal me instantly. But signs and wonders are His call, and though I consider today’s health a miracle from above, God chose a far different route than I would have chosen. In the hour of trial, I believe God receives glory if we simply believe what He says. And that is the challenge!

A little over four years ago, early one afternoon, God told me something: “My grace is sufficient for you.” I was a little puzzled by this familiar Word, not knowing the news I was about to receive. But a few hours later, when my friend the doctor came to our house with the message of cancer, the meaning was clear. God wanted me to know that no matter what was to come, it was enough that He was with me. Could I believe this simple message? In the day of suffering, the devil does not come against you with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life – he comes against you with unbelief! “Where is your God now? He is not with you! Look at you – at the time you need Him most, your God is no where to be found!”

But if, in that moment of darkness and despair, a soul says, “I do not see Him; I do not feel Him; I do not understand – but I know my God is with me”, the Father is glorified. Even if we cry out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”, yet we have surrendered ourselves to Him, the Father receives glory. Did not Jesus prove that, even in death, the Father can be glorified?

So how does God receive glory if I am strong and healthy and full of energy? Is the answer any different? Oh to believe what He says! If I know He is with me until “the very end of the age”, does that change the way I live? If I am confident I am “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works”, will I be about His business? If “God has poured out His love into our hearts”, does that determine the way I treat my fellow man? If I am a “temple of the Holy Spirit”, does that keep me on the narrow path? It should – if I believe. “Stop doubting and believe.”

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

“Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” John 17:1

Every time I go to the hospital for a day of tests I can’t help but reflect on the age old problem of suffering. (I won’t get Thursday’s test results for a few weeks.) Many have stumbled at the thought of a loving God who permits incredible suffering on this earth. Yet there is a loving God… and there is much suffering. Disease, famine, flood, and war bring extraordinary hardship to multitudes while hidden suffering in broken hearts and tormented minds bring no less pain.

A simplistic prosperity doctrine can leave one feeling guilty if things aren’t rosy, but the Holy Spirit is wise to give much instruction to believers about embracing suffering. As in the time the New Testament was written, many today suffer for simply wearing the name of Christ. The words of Peter are plain, “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you… If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

Can all who walk in Christ embrace such a mentality about all kinds of suffering? Most of us do not live in a land where persecution is common, yet all Christians have the same enemy. Throughout history, God has allowed difficulty (even the attacks of the evil one) to bring His children closer to Him. No one in his right mind wants to drink a bitter cup, yet we all want to grow in our trust in the One who sees and understands all things. “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

Matt Redman wrote a song of praise containing the mindset that pleases the Father: “Blessed be Your Name, when the sun’s shining down on me… when the world’s ‘all as it should be’, blessed be Your Name. Blessed be Your Name, on the road marked with suffering… though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be Your Name.”

Jesus told us we each would have a cross to bear. Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world. Jesus dreaded His cup and prayed it could pass, yet He trusted His Father and with “the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame.” Paul understood that when he suffered, he participated in what was “lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” Perhaps that’s why he longed to know “the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.”

I don’t grasp this mystery, but we all know hardship can produce good as we trust the Lord. So let us encourage one another in faith. In humility, let us pray for one another and bear one another’s burdens. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus,”the Author and Perfecter of our faith.” And let us follow His example.

“To this end you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” I Peter 2:21-23

Though taught well all my life of God and His Son, I was close to thirty years old when the truth of the cross penetrated my heart with its power. “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”(John 12:32) He has drawn all men! The sin of every man hung with Jesus on the cross. The Lamb of God was sacrificed for us all. “He died for all mankind” can keep guilt at a distance, but “my sin put Him there” brings personal grief. Who does not want to repent when such realization comes? When we see the love of the Father and Son, we have little desire to continue in sin and rebellion, but my problem was that the power of sin was greater than my power to resist. Out of my own strength, I had no success. The harder I tried to follow God’s ways, the worse I seemed to be. But another truth of the cross set me free: “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”(Romans 6:6-7)

To believe what God has done through Christ brings new life. The old is gone; the new has come. We are not the same. But a journey lies before all God’s children and great is the temptation to put things out of order. Few talk of idols these days, but they still exist. The most loved apostle’s last words in I John give a warning to all: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” A God who gives us choice, patiently asks, “Will you put all else aside and seek Me only?” When we answer, “Yes, Lord” another renewal comes. Stepping out of the boat… launching into the deep… walking by faith…freedom in Christ… life in the Spirit… friendship with Jesus… relationship with the Father… fellowship in the Body… such are the experiences and blessings of God’s children.

We know God desires to change us into the image of His Son, so I was a bit intrigued in April of 2000 when a visiting minister from India shared a strange message over the phone with Susan while I was out of town. “I had a dream about your husband last night. I believe God was saying that in four months Dana will be a changed man.” Four months later, the doctor uttered words that change any man or woman: “You have cancer.” Again I thank so many of you who prayed for me and served my family during difficult times. And I thank God who has given me health and precious time. I know I have learned much, but at the close of a year, I confess I am in need. The boldness I had when I was weak has faded a bit. The urgency of “God’s priorities”, knowing time is short, has lessened. The “fire” stirred up in the place of danger has cooled. Clarity has become a little hazy. Of all people, I have no excuse to be passionless or fearful or lukewarm or smothered by a world that tends to lull us to sleep.

So, what is my need? Not sickness, I pray. Not a re-doubling of effort. Not a pep talk from friends. I need the Mighty One who died on the cross and rose in victory to show me the way. He found me when I was lost. He humbled me when I was proud. He freed me when I was bound. He raised me when I was sick. He taught me when I was weak. He is what I need this year. I want Him to teach me to love as He does. I want Him to teach me to pray with confidence and faith. I want Him to show me how to stand in His holy armor against all the strategies of the evil one. I want Him to show me how to live day by day as a husband and a father and a teacher and a neighbor. I want Him to keep the cross ever before me and the world far behind me so that, in some way, I might bring Him glory. I want His zeal, His boldness, His wisdom, His compassion, His heart, and His Spirit. “Renew me, O Lord.”

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

This is the last day of the school year and a good time to express thanks. I am grateful for your constant encouragement throughout the year. Some are surprised a math teacher can put a thought into words, but God is a God of wonders!

To my knowledge, our kids haven’t read anything I have written. I told Susan that perhaps one day these things we’ve learned will be of benefit to them. When the late Rich Mullins (who was not married and had no kids) was asked what he would say to his child in this day and time, he wrote some thoughts that led to a song entitled: “Bound to Come Some Trouble”. Here’s the first verse:

There’s bound to come some trouble to your life, but that ain’t nothing to be afraid of
There’s bound to come some trouble to your life, but that ain’t no reason to fear
I know there’s bound to come some trouble to your life, but reach out to Jesus and hold on tight
He’s been there before and He knows what it’s like
You’ll find He’s there

These words are true!

I also want to thank you for all the prayers you have prayed for me, my family, and our two friends, Sybil and Suzette, who are battling breast cancer. I don’t think God ever expected us to fully understand one another or even agree with one another at every turn. But I do know He expects us to love one another. When we pray in faith and match our words with action, God smiles. The greatest sign of God in this world is the special love He puts within His children.

It looks like I have a busy summer ahead. If a stirring thought comes to mind, I may send out a note or two, but until then – let us courageously live the life of love God calls us to live and let us give continuous thanks for Jesus… who shows us what love really is.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” I John 3:16-18

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” I John 4:7-12

The doctor that first discovered I had cancer is a friend and Christian brother. When he saw me several weeks ago, He praised God and gave thanks that I was doing so well. He then told an amazing story about a man who goes to his church. When this man went for an examination, doctors found a large mass in his chest which seemed to indicate a dangerous cancer. Surgery was scheduled for the next week.

The Sunday before he was to have surgery, this man brought his need before the church and all the believers prayed with great fervency for a miracle. That week, as the doctors prepared for surgery, an x-ray was taken to find the exact place of the mass to be removed. But the x-ray revealed no abnormality! Puzzled, the doctors checked and re-checked, but could find nothing to remove, so there was no surgery. There was no doubt that God had answered the prayers of His people.

My doctor friend was praising God, the great Healer, and though I joined the praise, I must confess a disturbing thought entered my mind. “God, why didn’t you heal me that way? Why did I have to go through all I did, when you could have healed me instantly?” I am not proud of this thought for I know it is really a complaint. Instead of thanking God for his abundant mercy, I began to compare the path I had to walk with the path of another.

How easy it is to fall into the comparison trap! After the resurrection, Jesus took time to restore the disciple who had denied him three times. He then told Peter that rough days were in the future. “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Peter must not have wanted to think about Jesus’ hard words, so he began to look around. Spotting John following at a distance, Peter asked, “Lord, what about him?” (read Jesus’ humorous reply in John 21:18-23)

I don’t think Jesus wanted Peter looking at someone else when He was talking to him. I don’t think Jesus wants me to compare my path to another’s. I think Jesus wants our total attention so we can hear his personal words: “You must follow me.” How I want to follow Him this year.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2