The Forty-Day Journey of Promise
Day Eleven: Trials Make Us God-Dependent
Note: Welcome to The Journey, our forty-day blog series from MLK Day through the end of Black History Month. We’re learning life lessons from the legacy of African American Christianity. The series is based upon material from my book Beyond the Suffering. To learn more about Beyond the Suffering, including downloading a free chapter, click here.
Charlotte Brooks explains it this way to Octavia Albert.
“I tell you, child, religion is good anywhere—at the plow-handle, at the hoe-handle, anywhere. If you are filled with the love of my Jesus you are happy.”
For Brooks, her religion was no “pie-in-the-sky, sweet-by-and-by” pabulum. Listen to the next sentence out of her mouth.
“Why, the best times I ever had was when I first got religion, and when old master would put me in that old jail-house on his plantation all day Sunday.”
Jailed physically on the Sabbath, spiritually every day was a free Sabbath, a day of jubilee for Brooks.
Sin Is Growing Bold, Religion Is Growing Cold
What mindset enabled such inner freedom? Brooks and others understood that trials make us God-dependent. Speaking to her interviewer Albert, and to us, she says,
“You see, my child, God will take care of his people. He will hear us when we cry. True, we can’t get any thing to eat sometimes, but trials make us pray more.”
In fact, the lack of trials can lead to a slackening of faith.
“I sometimes think my people don’t pray like they used to in slavery. You know when any child of God gets trouble that’s the time to try their faith. Since freedom it seems my people don’t trust the Lord as they used to. ‘Sin is growing bold, and religion is growing cold.’”
Join the Conversation (Post a Comment for a Chance to Receive a Copy of Beyond the Suffering)
1. Nothing happens to us that must define us. What loss or trauma could you redefine to reclaim your God-given victory and authority over evil?
2. As you walk the trail of trials in your life and as you journey with others, how can you apply a core theme in African American sufferology: Trials make us God-dependent?
Charlotte Brookes statement about the “best times” being locked in the jail house on Sunday, made me think of the elderly women (83 I think) rescued after at least 5 days, in Haiti. You may have ready the story…Trapped under rubble in the Catholic church she was able to speak for the first 3 days to a priest. When his voice was silenced, she said she spoke to God, and that she did not need anyone else. That is not only faith in living action, but intimate communion.
I have always loved hearing the stories of faith of our African American “mothers and fathers” of the faith. Their simple yet profound reliance on God .. their ability to “connect” and find His Heart BECAUSE OF their suffering, is truly inspirational in a world so set on AVOIDING the pain and IGNORING the pain of others rather than EMBRACING it. Their wisdom and strength is truly Balm for my soul! They had that abilility so lacking in this day, to reach out and DO Spiritual Soul-care! We would be blessed and wise to glean from them, not just their words and stories, for story’s sake, but as a mentoring in the way of walking in an unshakeable Faith in unbearable times.
In the midst of loosing my husband at such an early age, and trying to tend to 5 children … I read these stories, I hear the words of those who have suffered so much more, and
I am learning to be God-dependant in a way that was never required before this “tragedy” happened. And yet, for all the sorrow, the strength I have gained makes me glad in a bittersweet way, to be on this journey. Even a wonderful husband, as Godly and Christlike as Andy was, is a poor substitute compared to the God-dependent relationship the way these people had! They give me the strength and the KNOWING that I can make it!! There is a tangible “hug” and real comfort – that we do not have to avoid the pain, but rather to seize the opportunity to meet GOD in the “jail house” of this life!!
For the past 13 years I’ve been dealing with a physical trial that defies even the best doctor’s minds. I’ve spent years doing IV antibiotics, months at a time hospitalized, gone through many surgical procedures, etc. It did not take long for me to learn that there was no way I could make it alone. Through it all I’ve learned to trust Him more.
Someone once asked me if I was angry with God because all of the suffering He’d allowed. I explained that it was impossible for me to be angry with God. I need Him too much. He’s brought me through so many things. And He’s taught me through this experience to look to Him. He’s also helped me to assist others in doing the same thing.
Nothing is wasted. Not even our sorrows.
I loved this quote: “I sometimes think my people don’t pray like they used to in slavery. You know when any child of God gets trouble that’s the time to try their faith. Since freedom it seems my people don’t trust the Lord as they used to. ‘Sin is growing bold, and religion is growing cold.’”
So true.