On Suffering and Trials

 

A friend wrote me that he is going through a difficult time, his focus was on the enemy, in fact he said nothing about our Lord Jesus. Below is what I wrote him back this morning, maybe there is something here for us. I have changed names.

 

Much love,

 

Bob

 

Good morning dear, dear friend,

 

You know Frank, the enemy is not your focus nor your testimony.

 

The enemy can only touch us with our Father's gracious permission.

 

Jesus, though He were a Son, yet learned obedience through the things He suffered - ought not we to do the same and rejoice in our sufferings.

 

The call to suffering is central to the cruciform life, the Cross is our portal to victory - suffering on the Cross with Jesus.

 

One DAY we will be asked to show our hands and our feet and our side - have we suffered for Jesus Christ and others?

 

I am reminded of a story about Ulysses S. Grant.

 

As the Army of the Potomac moved into Virginia in 1864 to engage Robert E. Lee's army, with the goal of its destruction, Grant (who had recently come from the West to take command) heard his generals talking about what Lee was going to do, time after time. The leaders of this Army had fought Lee since 1861 and had seldom got the upper hand, and when they did they threw the advantage away. Lee had gotten into their head big time.

 

Grant finally had enough and said, "We aren't going to talk about what Bobby Lee is going to do, we are going to talk about what we are going to do."

 

I love that Frank, I love that.

 

Don't we want to see Jesus revealed in everything? Don't we desire His image to be continually revealed within us, within us to others?

 

How glorious to be called to suffer for His sake, how glorious.

 

Oswald Chambers wrote that we want to choose the place of our crucifixion...I know that is true of me...I'm still learning.

 

I hope you are sharing your walk with someone in addition to Susan, I hope one of the men you mentioned is partnering with you in this - we are not called to live in isolation...and I think we need someone in addition to, and to complement, our wives. Of course our wives need, I think, other sisters to walk with them, and I deeply believe that husbands and wives need other mature husbands and wives to share this pilgrimage with. 

 

I have been through hell more than once, and I could not have made it without my friends...nor without Vickie...but I've needed both.

 

I dearly love you and pray for you and Susan and your family all the time.

 

Bob