Dear sister,
Affliction comes to us in many forms. It could be the loss of a loved one, the disappointment of a dream deferred, the ache of homesickness or the heartbreak of unrequited love. The longer we live the more kinds of affliction we experience and I would argue the more intensely we feel it cut into our bones.
Recently, I’ve been experiencing homesickness. More so over the past month than in the last seven months that I’ve been away from my family. Seven months? Has it only been that long? When I moved away for college it was definitely not this hard. But now, working as a young professional, everything feels so permanent.
This ache in my heart has never been so strong or so difficult to ignore. Did I make the right decision? Is this really where God wants me? How can I feel so alone when I’m surrounded by so many people?
During the time I was experiencing this hurt my church began a series on Job and suffering. One point that my pastor made rang particularly true to me. He said “In the midst of suffering we have the tendency to forget the bigger picture and believe that there is nothing greater going on in the world than our suffering,” and “suffering will cause you to doubt God and forget who He is.”
Wow. This was surely true of me. I had allowed my circumstances to cause me to doubt God’s sovereignty and goodness. All I wanted was for Him to tell me why this was happening and just fix everything for me so that I could be happy. But as Job waited for God’s response to his suffering, so I too was left without explanation or resolution.
As the series on Job progressed, I continued to hear more and more truths that I’ll admit I didn’t want to hear. I wanted to hear that it would be OK for me to run back home and “escape” these feelings of loneliness but instead I heard the words of the LORD to Job: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth…or who shut in the sea with doors…have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place…have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this” (Job 38:4, 8, 12, 18).
God is pointing out here that Job is out of his depth. He cannot possibly understand fully the ways of God. In chapter 42, Job acknowledges this saying, “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
The story of Job leads us to this principle: knowing why we are suffering isn’t the solution to it. The better answer than why is Who. Remember in your suffering who God is. Remember His sovereignty and that because of it your pain can never be random or unexpected by God. Remember that He is faithful and will bring you through it.
For me this meant seeing a tiny glimpse of the woman I will be when I reach the end of this time in my life. I saw a woman full of greater faith than when she left home, who knows how to trust God in all circumstances and who has learned the secret to being content. That is, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. In knowing that this specific situation is sanctifying me and bringing me closer to Jesus, I can sincerely rejoice in my momentary afflictions. I know that sounds strange, dear sister, but it happened! It really, truly happened for me and the Lord can do it for you too.
If you are enduring a trial right now, sister, you have a reason to rejoice. Do not cheat yourself from the sanctification that will result by seeking an escape route. But cling to the Lord and his promises. I know it hurts now but God will show you His faithfulness. I guarantee it.
“Count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” –James 1:2-4
You may also want to consider Romans 5:1-5; 8:18-25; and James 5:7-11.
Under His wing,
Kayla