“By affliction He teaches us many precious lessons, which without it we should never learn. By affliction He shows us our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, makes us long for heaven.” - J.C. Ryle
Pain can make us retreat. Or perhaps it can feel as though pain makes God retreat. And yet, how can that be true when our Savior is a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (Is 53:3)?
God has never been absent in our affliction - in fact, He is so near to our affliction that He took it upon Himself - ‘But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed (Is 53:5).’
We may be tempted to believe that doing the right things means we will have an easy life - that things will go well, that God is somehow indebted to provide us with peace for not causing a raucous. There are many examples throughout Scripture that obedience does not equal ease. Christ was perfectly obedient to God the Father, and would any confuse His for an easy life?
The world, our flesh, and the devil beckon us toward the wide gate and the easy way. This is a road easy, well-worn, and leading to destruction (Matt 7:13). But Christ invites us to walk His road: ‘For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.’ (Matt 7:14)
Lord, may we walk Your road filled with your strength, close to Your heart, undivided in heart, hungry for Your truth, and in eager expectation of Your return. Amen.
Walking,
AB