1 Peter 1:3-7 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has caused us to be born again to lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness and distress by various trials and temptations so that trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
THEME OF THE DAY: SOMETIMES THE BEST ACTION IS PRAYER NOT ADVICE. Arguably the greatest and most influential preacher since the Apostolic period was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Granted the likes of George Whitefield and the various preachers in periods of revivals and awakenings were great instruments in the hand of God, it was Spurgeon’s ministry and legacy which likely has left and continues to leave the most impact. And this great man of God knew great suffering. His suffering was physical with gout, emotional with deep and long periods of debilitating depression, and spiritual with trials and temptations of the severest kind. Right after a period of intense testing and suffering he preached a sermon titled, The Christian’s Heaviness and Rejoicing. In the sermon, Spurgeon said that during his illness, “When my spirits were sunken so low that I could weep by the hour like a child, and yet I knew not what I wept for, a kind friend was telling me of some poor old soul living near, who was suffering very great pain, and yet she was full of joy and rejoicing. I was so distressed by the hearing of that story and felt so ashamed of myself.” While he was struggling with the contrast between his depression and the joy evidenced by this woman who was afflicted with cancer, the text of his sermon (today’s scripture) hit him with great impact. He said, “This text flashed upon my mind with its real meaning that sometimes the Christian should not endure this suffering with a gallant and joyous heart, but that sometimes his spirits should sink within him, and that he should become as a little child smitten beneath the hand of God.”
Friends, it is not incompatible to “rejoice in the Lord” and suffer deep pain physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We do other Christians a great disservice when they are going through dark times of depression and other sufferings and we simply tell them, “Just trust God. Just rejoice in the Lord. He is sovereign. Be strong.” Though we may be well-intended, often such advice is like throwing gasoline on a fire or telling a runner with a broken leg to get into the race, run the 100 yard dash with zeal and energy. The very things we often tell a hurting soul – “Trust God, lean on His promises, pray, read your Bible, don’t rely on feelings” are the exact things they are attempting to do but in their pain feel spiritually paralyzed. Yes, we are to encourage one another toward all those commands of God, but maybe, when a soul, like Spurgeon, is walking through periods of spiritual darkness, the best action may not be words directed to them, but retreating to our prayer closet and earnestly interceding for our hurting brother and sister. Take them to the Lord asking Him to make those strengthening steps of faith and grace real in their lives.
One of the best books on prayer I have ever read is titled “The Still Hour” by Austin Phelps. It is available. Get it. Read it. Meditate through it. It is only 136 pages long and pure gold. He wrote, “We are never more like Christ than in prayers of intercession.” We are exhorted to “model Christ” and God is at work making us like His Son. One of those works and means of modeling Christ is to be more an intercessor in prayer for others than self-centered in our praying. Yes, we all hurt at times and go through deep valleys of pain. Sometimes, maybe more than sometimes, the best action we take is not words to them, but words for them to heaven.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to not only endure seasons of distress but to gladly submit to them as Your plan for me.”
QUOTE: “The Lord Jesus knew periods of stress and distress as He walked upon this earth and so must we”