For the past several years, my body has booked places where it thinks I should be, in a hospital with some major body malfunction. Since my gallbladder was removed last year, this year, there was a left-over stone hiding and causing infection near my liver. I had about two weeks to lay around wondering why God has me in these conditions.
Listening to the groans and anguish of other patients made me aware of certain scriptures that give us direction and hope. We often forget the words of John, in 16:33: “In this world we will have troubles, but we are encouraged to place our trust in Jesus, the redeemer.”
For two weeks I listened to the sounds from those around me. Not many were praiseworthy. Jesus’ words give us strength to endure and to realize that our suffering gives us a little insight into the pain he undertook on the cross.
Since creation began, God has not gotten a fair shake from his people. He made us to have fellowship, conversations and praise for what he has done for us. Just by looking at the distorted news, we see that humans have little concern for God,nor do we give him much praise.
There is so much fighting and hate. Since I am in my last trimester of life, I find myself looking at the words of the Testament writers who questioned God as to where he was in their troubles in their ancient lives. Their plea was, “don’t you care that the wicked are destroying the weak?”
So we find our comfort in John 16:33. We came into this world with a knowledge that our troubles will shape us. They will test us, but Jesus says he sees all that people do for his Kingdom. Our reward will be given to us in Heaven.
Can we empathize with those who have needs. Can we help with money or food or clothing? These are the things Jesus wants to see in his people — where other’s needs are as important as our own. May all of us see the spiritual need and get involved.
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