I may have shared this before, but it's been a while. So here it is again!
I’ve just finished reading a book called Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. I highly recommend it, if you haven’t read it. Brother Lawrence was a monk living in a monastery in France in the mid to late 1600’s. It’s a short book, easy to read, but speaks volumes.
One of the things that really caught my attention was the different view of suffering that was prevalent in the 1600’s in the church. Nobody wants to suffer. No one wants to suffer. In fact, today, we are quick to ask for prayers to relieve our suffering and make us well again.
Yet, Brother Lawrence wrote a letter, essentially congratulating a Reverend Mother when she became very ill, because he knew that God allowed that suffering, that he had a purpose for that suffering, and that it would bring her even closer to God by strengthening her faith.
I would never congratulate someone for becoming seriously ill, or experiencing other types of pain and suffering in their lives, and I certainly hope you wouldn’t either! But Scripture is clear about the role of suffering in the life of one who trusts in their Lord.
As we ride down the road, we will meet people who are suffering. Many today are. We may even be asked to pray for healing. As we do, let’s remember the role of suffering. Let’s remember that God is good and doesn’t allow suffering without a reason.
If a believer suffers, it’s because God allowed it, and because He has a plan for it. Often that plan is to steer people back to a closer relationship with Him. We can be a part of that.
By sharing and praying with people, we are directing their attention to God. Many of them might not have thought much about God in a long time. Look for suffering, and be ready…
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