This is part 2 of 4 of Lesson 6. Click here to go back to the introduction to Lesson 6 Struggling With All Energy.
When going through a trial, how does God act towards us? How does He heal us?
Back in Lesson 3 ‘The Bird Cage’ we discussed the case of John the Baptist and the family of Lazarus. These people had to endure trials, but Ellen White tells us that God comforted them in their trials.
Do you believe Jesus at His word when he says?
The Spirit of the LORD [is] upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to [the] poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted…Luke 4:18 (NKJV, emphasis mine)
Clearly not all trials are with the purpose of refining. Many I believe are the result of living in the warzone that is this Earth. However where a trial is there for the purpose of saving someone from eternal destruction, it is interesting to note God’s way towards us. The following is an intriguing text:
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with [their] eyes, Lest they should understand with [their] hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” John 12:40 (NKJV)
Don’t get hung up on the reference to God hardening their hearts – that’s a topic for another day. The main point I’d like to highlight here is that God can heal us when we understand with our hearts, and turn. God is the healing business – but we have to turn back towards Him.
There are many references in the Bible to God being a God of ‘comfort’?
Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. 2 Cor 1:3 (NKJV)
Jesus in His own trial experienced the comfort of the Father:
He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Which leads us on to the important angle that God Himself suffers. I believe that He is like any parent, any lover, who goes through as much pain as the loved one who is suffering:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! Luke 13:34 (NKJV)
I find this a comforting thought – He is not impassively watching this earth in all its wretchedness – looking to save all He can and grieving over those He can’t.
In other cases, such as Job, it would appear that no comfort occurred during the main part of the trial – it was pure agony. These are the trials that can shake faith – although as Job showed, it is possible to cling onto faith no matter what comes.
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Job 13:15 (NKJV)
I think this shows that healing and comfort doesn’t always happen at the time of the trial, sometimes it can be after the event, well after. We have to trust in the goodness of God that this is all for a good reason – and is for our ultimate good.
I look forward to your thoughts on this…
On to the next section – Hard Work?
