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GIVING THANKS IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING

By Mike Andrews

One of the most important things we must do when we suffer is to give thanks. I don't say this lightly knowing that many believers have endured unimaginable pain and tragedy thoughout their lives. It's in our sufferings that the Scriptures reveal that giving thanks in the midst of agony and affliction is certainly not easy to do. Yet Ephesians 5:20 tells us we should give thanks "always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul echoes this in 1 Thess 5:18 where he says to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Giving thanks helps us to focus on God in our affliction, steers us away from complaining, strengthens our faith and brings glory to Jesus. Thomas Brooks wrote, "A gracious soul may look through the darkest cloud and see God smiling on him." Again, is this easy? No, but there are many things we can give thanks for when we go through seasons of suffering; because ultimately they are for His glory and our good.. Here are twelve reminders that I try to ponder on as I go through seasons of suffering and affliction.

1) That God is sovereign and in complete control of the intensity and the duration of your affliction. "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose" Is 46:9-10

2) That God's love and mercies never cease. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lam 3:22-23

3) That Jesus will never leave nor forsake you. "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Heb 13:5

4) That God is with you in your affliction "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Isaiah 43:2

5) That God hears your every prayer. "The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry." Ps 34:15

"When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." Ps 34:17

6) That God is using this affliction to make you like Christ. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Romans 8:28-29

7) That this affliction is momentary and light compared to the eternal reward it is producing. "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison..." 2 Cor 4:17

8) That Jesus is your sympathetic High Priest who intercedes for you constantly. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." Heb 4:15

"Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." Heb 7:25

9) That God is near you in your pain. "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

10) That Jesus is your refuge, strength, and strong tower you can run to. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1,"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." Prov 18:10

11) That God has saved you, washed away your sins, and adopted you as his own child. "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Romans 4:7

12) That someday Jesus will wipe away every tear from your eyes and you will see his glorious face. "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Rev 21:4

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2). Man can't discover God on his own; God must reveal Himself to man. Since the beginning of time, man has deceived himself by thinking he can discover God through various religions. But in reality, man lives in a box enclosed within the walls of time and space. God is outside the box, and man senses He's there but can't get to Him. Each new religion is but another futile attempt to penetrate the walls of the box and catch a glimpse of God.

Man's only hope is for God to enter the box, which Hebrews 1:1-2 declares He did: first by letter (the Old Testament), then in person (in Jesus Christ). Regarding God's Word David said, "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue" (2 Sam. 23:2). Jeremiah added, "The Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, 'Behold, I have put My words in your mouth'" (Jer. 1:9). Of Christ, the apostle John said, "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him" (John 1:14, 18).

The irony of people thinking they can discover God on their own is that apart from the Holy Spirit's leading, no one really wants to find Him. They merely want to add a cosmic good luck charm to their lives or satiate their guilty consciences. Paul said, "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God" (Rom. 3:10-11, emphasis added). God could have left us in our sin and ignorance, but He penetrated the box and revealed everything we need to know for redemption and fellowship with Him. What a privilege we have to study His Word and live by its principles! Be diligent to do so each day.

Suggestion for Prayer Praise God for granting you the ability to appreciate His Word.

For Further Study Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, noting how natural (unregenerate) people respond to divine revelation.

Our ultimate desire at Calvary Baptist Church is first and foremost to bring glory and praise to the Sovereign LORD [Father, Son, & Holy Spirit] and to raise up mature believers so that we can fulfill the Great Commission. We will seek to achieve this by following the guidelines that God has put in place for prayer, worship, communion, Christian fellowship, Bible Study, and most of all the expository teaching of God's Word. We desire to provide the proper teaching of God's Word so that fellow believers can grow together and edify one another with love and compassion.

Please come, and join us, as we look into how God has composed a unique storyfor each of our lives.CBC is a place to call home as we ......Magnify the Lord, Mature the Believers, Make prayer a priority, Meet the lost with Christ