Afflictions

 There is one thing I've noticed among my brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a whole lot of affliction! What is an affliction? It's simply a disorder, disease, ailment, condition, or illness that causes great suffering. But why? Why would the believers, of all people, be afflicted? Aren't we supposed to be healed by His stripes? Paul said something in his epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 4 verse 8 that many of us can relate to, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair." Today I want to address just one type of affliction and ask, why are we suffering from afflictions like fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, constant pain, bowel disorders, heart disease, lung disease, paralysis, on and on, and on? Is it that we have some kind of unconfessed sin causing our ailments? Is God mad and therefore punishing us? Why would a devote Christian who follows Jesus, loves the Word of God, follows in obedience, has been baptized in the Holy Spirit, etc. be afflicted? These are questions I have pondered over and over as I myself am "afflicted" by a genetic condition that progressed to the point I am now confined to a wheelchair. What in the world could possibly be the reason I, you, or any other believer is afflicted? I'm going to share what the Lord revealed to me.

It's obvious that we must consider the record of  JOB. Why? Because of the extreme amount of suffering he endured and the patience he maintained throughout his ordeal. You have heard people say of someone they admire, "He has the faith and patience of Job."  You know the story of Job; yet let me go over it very briefly. The first chapter begins with the story of Job, how he was prospering. He was a good man, perfect, upright, one that feared God and eschewed evil. As his children feasted from day to day, he offered sacrifices lest they might have sinned. In verse six the scene is changed. The veil is drawn aside, and we see something happening in heaven. Satan appears, and when he is asked where he comes from he answers, "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down it" Job 1:7. Then the question is asked, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and escheweth evil?" verse 8. Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face" Verse 9-11. These verses contain a challenge to the Lord that Job will not stand true. God accepts the challenge: "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put not forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD" verse 12. Do you remember the calamities that came upon Job? One thing after another happened. Job was perplexed. He did not know what was going on in heaven. He did not know of the challenge, and that he was being put to the test, and that the Lord was depending upon him. Job was stripped of all that he had, laden with disease, heartache, betrayed by friends, but at the end, he arose and said:

"Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked will I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" verses 21-22. Satan was beaten. He had charged that Job served God because it was paying him; that God had put a hedge about him; that Satan could not get at him. But Job stood the test. PATIENCE. Then comes the second meeting in heaven, and Satan, unabashed, again appears. Though he had been beaten once, he was not discouraged. God asks him again if he has noticed Job. Satan answers, "Skin for skin, yes, all that a man has will a man give for his life. But put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse You to your face." Job 2:4-5. God again accepts the challenge. And so Satan goes forth and does all he is permitted to do. He goes the limit. He may not kill Job, but he causes him to suffer intensely. Job is laid on the ash heap scraping himself, the matter oozing from all his sores. His wife counsels him to curse God and die. Job answers her: "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this, Job did not sin.  PATIENCE. Satan had been beaten again. 

Satan had tormented Job, causing him intense suffering; but Job had stood the test. God's confidence in him was not misplaced. Put yourself in Job's place. He was greatly perplexed at times. He had not seen that scene in heaven; he did not know the challenge that had gone forth. God was depending upon him. Job was perplexed. He could not understand why this thing had come. He was a righteous man and obedient to God in every way. He didn't understand how important it was in God's plan that he should stand the test. And he, like all of us who are afflicted to some degree, searched his soul and he did not know of any specific wrong he had done. Have you done this? Wondered this? Have you been perplexed as to why your suffering from illness, ailments, or disabilities? Was Job a bad man? Have you sometimes stood at the bed of sickness or gone through some severe trial and asked, "Why? Why me?" I have!  

So then, why?

UNDERSTAND! The problem of suffering and sickness is indeed an important one but all sickness is not the result of sin even though there are preachers that preach that and some of us have been duped into believing it. Look at this, of the man mentioned in John 9, it is asked, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" John 9:2. And Jesus answered, "Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" verse 3. WOW. Sin was not involved. Could this be how God is using you? Don't get me wrong, there is, indeed, suffering that is a result of sin. You transgress and suffering results. That is one kind of suffering which we are generally quite well acquainted with. But there is another kind, mentioned in the fourth verse of the eleventh chapter of John (speaking of Lazarus) "When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby" John 11:4. Reading again, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be manifest in him." We cannot know what purpose God has for the things He allows, other than, through reading scripture we know God has a purpose for our lives. I have known people to go through bad experiences and exclaim: "Why, Oh Lord, did this come on me? Where have I sinned? What have I done?" And they search their souls and can find no reason for it. They are perplexed. Could it be, as it was with the apostle Paul, he had to contend with the thorn in his flesh? (2 Corinthians 12:6-7). Notice it says FLESH? That was in Paul's body! So is it plausible that there is a purpose even in suffering, and that it may be that God is causing you to pass through that perplexity that you may be able to help and to comfort those who are in any trouble? After all, it is only as we pass through certain experiences that our words of comfort or reproof have any weight? I'm writing this for any believer who is worried and perplexed and who does not understand that God is putting them through trials for the purpose of service! Consider the spiritual impact you have when you walk through the fire (whatever that might be: a recent heart attack, daily pain, a crippling disability) and others see you come through it still trusting God, maintaining your faith, and still happy to witness His goodness. That's a powerful testimony you might not otherwise be able to give.

The bottom line is if you have an unexplained affliction or if you have been constantly attacked perhaps for years on end for no reason at all, just keep in mind Satan is given permission to try God's people to the utmost. We will cry to God day and night. It is the time of Jacob's trouble. We search our souls to see if any sin is left. But we find none. We repented of our sins. There is nothing against us. But the trial that comes brings perplexity, anxiety, confusion, terror, and distress. We go through somewhat the same experience that Job went through. Remain PATIENT. there is a purpose. Keep fighting the fight of faith. Stay strong. Honor God. Remain faithful. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning Psalm 30:5.

Until He comes,

-Pat-