I took a break from my normal devotions. Sometimes such a break just means I’ve been lazy and not opened the word, but in this case it was a break from reading Psalms for a devotion in watching a guy talk about Psalms.
Who isn’t attracted by a devotion called ‘Trusting God in Difficult Times’? That’s a devotion for Monday through Sunday, year after year. This devotion was great for anyone who has too small a grip on the sovereignty of God. Someone like me.
It also ends with some amazing pastoral advice. Pastors, listen up.
When people say, intellectually ‘How can we say God is really in control in light of great suffering?’ we might answer with obvious logic: you can’t assume just because you can’t think of a good reason for allowing suffering that there isn’t a much bigger, better reason than you can imagine. And that by a greater, gooder God than you would ever be.
When people say, sufferingly, ‘How can we say God is really in control in light of my great suffering?’ - go to the cross of Christ! There you may not find the reason why you are suffering, but you will find a reason you cannot arrive at - you cannot arrive, even in your suffering, at the conclusion that God does not love you. For there is a loving God who himself elects to suffer.
Here the conclusion of this poem:
“Jesus of the Scars” by Edward Shillito
The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.