Spiritual Growth Pains

Spiritual Growth Pains Today there are many who would like to quickly conclude that gambling, drunkenness, pagan celebrations, spiritism, sexual immorality, terrorism, idol worship or crime are the root causes for diasters. They certainly are like a cancerous disease, that spreads all over the world destroying the fabric of society. Although these practices draw us away from God they do not necessarily have to be the cause for the disaster. 

 The three biggest catastrophes has been the tsunami in Asia, hurricane Katrina, and the earthquake in Pakistan, India and Afghanisthan. Disasters can happen anywhere... the depths of the ocean, the heights of Himalaya mountains and even on the soil of highly developed countries like USA. Many single survivors of these tragedy remain like Job in the Old Testament, homeless, familyless and jobless. They find themselves in situations and circumstances where they wish that God had taken them also away from this world of intense suffering, pain, and loss. Did God abandon them? 

The other day while blogging I asked a fellow blogger what was going on? There has been a spate of natural disasters. Could thess be the signs of the end of the world? He said that each year about 140 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater will occur on earth. An average of 20 of those will be 7.0 or greater. Also currently it is the hurricane season along the southern coast of USA; it happens every fall. To sum it up, natural disasters have their own course of events. Can we interpret them as God abandoning us? When we grow old or fall sick can we blame it on God? Although a close call with death always leaves us with memories which come back to haunt us. We must let the dying go, trusting, as Henri Nouwen puts it, “that death does not have the last word. We can look at them…and give them hope; we can hold their bodies in our arms. And we can trust that mightier arms than ours will receive them and give them the peace and joy they desire.” 

 Sometimes the harsh realities of life and nature draw us closer to God. In the case of Elijah after everything harsh had passed, God spoke to him in a soft and gentle whisper. Can we comprehend or understand God and His ways? We can only live and grow in Him and His ways everyday in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. Let us tune in to that gentle whisper leading us through life. As Leo Tolstoy says in his story of the King and the Hermit, there is only one time that is important - Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!" 

 Job's entire faith rested on the omnipresent and omniscient God. He humbly surrendered his whole life entirely into God's hands. He was confident that God knew the path that his life was taking him on. Although his circumstances seemed to be a total loss, God's presence continued to be with him. Physically his mind and body were tearing him apart. All his gifts and blessings had been far removed from him. Although the way ahead seemed to spell gloom and doom, Job did not falter in his faith in God. Job's only confidence was that God was still there with him. Even his friends and wife questioned his stand with God. They accused him of some hidden sin that had caused this tragedy to fall upon him. 

 Job was convinced, that God knew his thoughts and all his actions. He was convinced that after this phase in his life of absolute and intense suffering, God would eventually reward him for his absolute faith in Him. He had the maturity to see that the same God who was with him through his blessed life was with Him even during his hard times. He looked at his present life as one of much trial, but he was convinced once this trial was past, his faith, hope and love for God would remain as pure as gold. 

 Above all, Job firmly believed that God had a plan for his life. He knew that his reward need not necessarily be given to him on earth. He was convinced that God would reward him if not in this life, then in the next. He said that although the wicked may prosper for a season, or never see hard times, they would have no standing with God. Job clung to the word of God and valued it more than anything else in the world. He knew if he was steadfast he would not be led to the miry clay of despair, doubts, self pity or hatred toward God. It is this despair that draws people to fall and get side tracked. 

These feelings can destroy a person's faith. Job found comfort in assuring himself with God's word that strengthened him at his time of trouble. The word kept him focused on God and His ways. He valued his spiritual life and food far more than he valued anything else he possessed or would possess on earth. Isaiah's portrayal of the suffering servant(Isaiah 53:3)is one who was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. His very presence made us hide our faces from him. He was despised and he had no standing in our lives. 

 David in his early years had to flee from King Saul who was extremely jealous of his success and feared that David would supercede him. David through his despair found assurance that God had heard his cries for help (Psalm 40:1-2). He found strength in God and was able to patiently endure the intense persecution from King Saul. When we go through phases of intense suffering or pain let us come to Jesus who even though He suffered much, still loved and cared for all. It is in Christ we find comfort and strength.He has assured us that nothing can seperate us from His love (Romans 8:35, 38). We all despair of life itself, but Christ says to come to him all who are weak and heavy laden and He will comfort and strengthen them. We can use our experience with despair and grief to help another who is going through a difficult time. Our grief may be one of the most fundamental of life skills. It is the way that the heart can heal from loss and go on to love again and grow wise. 

Listen to Philip Yancy as he elucidates on why he thinks there is so much of suffering? How he worked through various barriers to his personal faith. He tragically lost his Father who aspired to be a missionary to Africa of polio maybe because his Father’s family and friends believed he would be healed spiritually by God. He was just a baby (one year old). But over the years as he spends time with people who went through great personal tragedies in their life, God transforms his heart and mind.

  The Hebrew word "Shama" is best translated by a combination of four English words, "hear, heed, understand, and obey"(Luke 8:21). This is what Christ has called us to do (Matthew 7:24) as Christians - we are to hear and reflect on his words; understand and obey them. In so doing we fulfill the wishes of our Father in heaven. Shama increases the depth in our faith. It is absolutely important that we believe in God and have faith that He is rewarder of all who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is the key to the strength we have in Christ Jesus. If we humble ourselves before God in absolute faith, Peter says God will lift us up in His own time. We are also called to humble ourselves before our brothers and sisters(1 Peter 5:5-6). God does not favor those who are proud. Like Job and David let us humble ourselves before God so that in due time God will show his mercy and lift us up to heights we have not seen before (1 Corinthians 2:9). 

References to Scriptures 

 Job 23:10-12 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. 

 Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

 I Kings 19: 11-12 11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 

Psalm 40:1-2 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  

Romans 8:35, 38 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

 Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 

 Luke 8:21 And Jesus answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

 1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 

 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.