Even so, Father ….A Story by JR Miller
A man once visited a school for deaf and dumb children. As he sat at the back of a classroom, the teacher—almost on impulse—wrote in large letters on the blackboard, “Why has God made you thus?” The visitor was stunned. Throughout history, great thinkers have struggled to provide an adequate answer to such a question. It seemed cruel to ask of these little ones a question that would cut right to the heart of their suffering. The moment seemed frozen in a tense and insufferable eternity. Finally, ……… (continued below)
What Have I Missed?
I’ve been pulling several books off the shelf lately, thumbing through them thinking, “Is there something here I have missed?” These are old books that were quite formative early on in shaping my Christian worldview, containing the initial groundwork and foundation stones for all that has followed thereafter. But lately, it seems like I have entered more deeply into an area of Christian thought, the arena of adversities and sufferings. Even though I own a fundamental understanding of suffering and its relevance to the Christian life, of late I’ve become much more aware of suffering as something more than just mere theory or theology, something more akin to being a critical element and vital component to this thing we call The Normal Christian Life. Though I have a long understood the role of adversity in our pilgrim’s progress, somehow the depths of its essential necessity, had eluded me until recently with the on-set of my own real-world encounter with physical discomfort and nearly ceaseless trial.
There is one book in review dated back to 1966 that expounds on the question as to why Christians suffer. Upon reflection, that book never really answered “the question” to my satisfaction, until now. In reexamination of its content, I observed the standard categories and explanations on display, thinking, “No, the proper teaching is all there except for that one thing I sense is missing.” Nearing the end of my rereading of the book, I was about to close the book, return it to the shelf and move on when I heard an inner voice say, “No, keep reading.” And within a few pages near the end, bang, there it was in uppercase, ALL SUFFERING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS FOR OUR BLESSING AND BENEFIT, all said within the context of applicable scripture references.
This was the missing piece that somehow failed to make an impression upon me amongst all else that resided within that book. This is “that something” I had overlooked and have come to fully understand after all these years; finally seeing with deep appreciation the truth connection of Christ’s words to “take up your cross and follow Me.” The truth is, suffering is not just an anomaly in the Christian life, but the norm for true advancement in the Christian faith and walk. James 1:2 is a first principal verse that heads a very long list of identical meaning counter-intuitive verses that are unequivocal is saying “count it all joy when you fall into various trials;” …not “some” but “all,” and not “if” but “when.”
As to why this reality failed to register with me so many years ago? I think the answer is quite simple; the thought of adversity as an intended blessing is simply counter to our way of thinking. It doesn’t fit within our happiness equation and expectation, especially in our sin-bent entitlement way of thinking.
So yes, I had missed something, as C.S. Lewis puts it in his book The Problem of Pain, “The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.”
This is the way; the true way.
On final note:
As regarding my “Morning Greetings” missives, it is my intention to put a little different emphasis going forward, venturing out and exploring under different headings, pathways and corridors those things which will assist us to effectively pursue and bring Every Thought Captive to the obedience in Christ.
With that said, let’s see how the story introduced above by JR Miller ends:
…….It seemed cruel to ask of these little ones a question that would cut right to the heart of their suffering. The moment seemed frozen in a tense and insufferable eternity. Finally, one little lad walked to the blackboard and with trembling hand scribbled these words: “Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.” What an excellent response to this and many other questions!
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa 30:15; Job 2:10; Jas. 1:2; Prov. 21:30
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