God’s Healing for Life’s Losses: How to Find Hope When You’re Hurting
Finding God Even When You Can’t Find Relief
Countdown to God’s Healing: BMH Books will release my fifth book in May. To read a sample section of God’s Healing for Life’s Losses: How to Find Hope When You’re Hurting click here. To pre-order your autographed copy at 30% off, visit here. As we countdown to the release, I’ll be sharing periodic excerpts, such as today’s post: Finding God Even When You Can’t Find Relief.
Glimpses of God
We’re ready to map God’s grieving and growth process one final time. Your path toward God during suffering also begins with the casket of loss. Finding your self in that casket, you’ve been waiting on God, wailing out to God, and weaving together His good plans from His good heart.
Rather than turning to false lovers who tame your soul, you now turn to your untamed God who captures your soul. You worship God. In the midst of life’s losses, yes you can choose worship—engaging God with love, which leads to ministry—engaging others with God’s love.
“Worship” is such a common word. But what is worship really? Specifically, in the midst of grief, what does worship look like? Let’s start with some subtle contrasts.
In crying, you cry out for God’s help. In worship, you cry out for God.
In comfort, you receive God’s strength. In worship, you receive God.
In wailing, you long for heaven because you’re tired of earth. In worship, you long for God because you miss Him.
In weaving, you glimpse God’s perspective. In worship, you glimpse the face of God.
So what is worship in the context of suffering? Worship is wanting God more than wanting relief. Worship is finding God even when you don’t find answers. Worship is walking with God in the dark and having Him as the light of your soul.
Whom Have I in Heaven but You?
The Bible consistently invites us to worship God in the midst of suffering. Worship as the end result of suffering has always been the testimony of God’s people. Asaph, reflecting on his suffering, concludes, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).
David concurs, as his suffering creates a God-thirst. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2).
Peter acknowledges the ever-present reality of suffering. “. . . you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6). He continues by explaining the purpose of problems, teaching that they come so that our faith in God may be refined. Peter then shares suffering’s significance: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filed with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8).
Peter’s message reminds us of Paul as he looks back upon a lifetime of suffering and says:
“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:8, 10).
What these biblical writers present, the hymn writer, Katharina von Schlegel poetical states:
Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: the best thy heavenly Friend,
Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Suffering’s ultimate goal is worship: exalting and enjoying God as our Spring of Living Water—our only satisfaction and our greatest joy. Finding God and experiencing His love, we’re nourished and empowered so that we can love others. This was Peter’s exact point near the end of his sermon on suffering. The refining fires of suffering purify us “so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22).
On the Road to Hope
Think about the difference between the “last best hope” the world offers us in suffering and the “sure hope” God’s Word and way promises us. The world can hope for changed circumstances and changed feelings. Maybe they come, maybe they don’t. Either way, our lot in life is to “accept” our lot in life. We move on as best we can, making the most we can out of what’s left of our life after our loss.
For those who place their sure hope in Christ and His resurrection power, the casket of loss is never final. That’s why Peter concludes his sermon on suffering with the words, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). Our “lot in life” is not “acceptance.” It is newness! It is new life and new power—the power to love God and others—worship and ministry.
Satan schemes to use suffering to suck the life out of your soul. God intends to employ creative suffering to enliven your soul. The mini and major caskets of your life losses do not have to lead to the death of faith, hope, and love. Through God’s grace, you can choose life—abundant life—life lived with engagement for God and others.
Join the Conversation
Facing his suffering, Asaph said, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25). In what ways are you responding to suffering like Asaph?
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