When God allows suffering, it’s because he loves us so much he can’t not purify us. God sent nations to attack Israel that they may turn away from their evil and obey him. He was so interested in refining a people for himself he would use their enemies to chastise them and lead them to repentance.
In Zephaniah 3, God says:
“I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant. I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’ But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.”
Zephaniah 3:6-7
If only we can learn to look at suffering as a process that produces perseverance, faith and hope as James says. In this sense suffering becomes a blessing because it is working for good for God’s purposes.
No discipline seems pleasant at the moment, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those that have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)
in Zechariah 13 God talks about purifying the remnant of Judah after he has scattered the sheep and cut a majority from the land.
I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as good and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name and I will answer them. I will say, “These are my people,” and they will say, “This is our God.” Zechariah 13:9
God wants trouble to direct us to him. He wants us to call on him in the day of trouble. He wants us to be purified by the fire then find our salvation in Him.
Yet not everyone gets refined by suffering. The nations Zephaniah refers to were not refined by suffering. They went through the fire and came out as dross, not silver or gold. The furnace is a must for all. The question is whether it will refine us or charr us. Those who are refined are those who submit to God’s discipline, who through pain do not let go of the hand that holds them, who like Job say, even though you slay me, still I will trust you’.
God is so interested in the people we become he will use all tools, including suffering, to refine us into people he can use.If you see trouble at your side, know that God is running after your heart. He wants you to turn away from idols and falsehood and unbelief and look to him.
God uses trouble to shake our false foundations that we may look to him alone, trust in him for our salvation and deliverance. Salvation belongs to God. Don’t let trouble leave you at the same place it found you or at a worse place of unbelief and faithlessness, even cynicism.
May our troubles lead us near the cross. May our troubles show us that we need God. May our bad seasons show the faithfulness of God. Shalom.
Faith & Good Sense 