Nothing we ever do is in vain if we are anchored on the Rock of God Himself. A friend of mine was devastated when she heard that the cancer she had been healed from two years ago came back. Being a working mum with young children, this was the last thing she wanted to hear. Both the children were midway through their end of year examinations. ‘Scattered’ was what she said, her family was scattered!
The question that comes up all through the ages is: ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’ We will never know. Through my personal experiences of chronic pain and suffering, I finally came to realise that there is fellowship with Jesus in our suffering. He became a man and lived on this earth with all the trials and tribulations and He knows what it ‘feels’ like.
There is pain in suffering but the gain far outweighs the pain. Jesus endured the agony at the cross because of the joy set before Him. Hebrews 12:2 sees Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross… He will give us the strength to endure our pain and furthermore He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us, no matter what we go through. He is there for us. He has a reward for us in heaven.
When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. As we get closer to the finish line, we can see the reward set before us. We dig our heels in deeper, align our mind and body for the goal set before us and gain momentum. Notice a marathon runner, as he nears the finish line, we focus on his every move, thinking whether his hammered body is going to make it. To our surprise and relief, he starts running faster and then we find him sprinting across that line. What ecstasy, what delight! He made it!
So, let’s dig our heels in deep, set our sights on our reward and aim to cross that finish line. Let’s wait for Heaven where we have the blessed assurance that we will live happily ever after with our loved ones and our Lord! Check out the video clip on the marathon runner in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as witnessed by 62000 people that day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2G8KVzTwfw
Never even forget that quitting is not an option. When we go through adversity we come out stronger and better equipped for the next challenge that may come our way. Acts 20:24 (NKJV) says that we are to finish the race. “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
I have found new strength, new courage, new freedom to pursue the things that really matter in life. These things will never fade away and cannot be taken away from me; they are eternal. So go on, dig deep, align your head and heart and look up. Take comfort in the fact that there is a reward that suffering brings.◊
Linda Pearl
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