There are different
ways to view our trials and troubles as illustrated by the story
of an insurance agent interviewing a cowboy for a new
policy.
“Have you ever been injured? Ever had any accidents?”
the agent asked.
“Well,” replied the cowboy, “a horse kicked in
a few o’ my ribs once. And I got bit by a rattlesnake. But
that’s about it; haven’t had any accidents,
really.”
“Don’t you call those accidents?” demanded the
agent.
“Oh, no,” came the answer. “I believe they did
that on purpose.”1
One person’s definitions may be different than
another’s. “Common wisdom” may miss the mark
and popular sayings circulated among good people may not all be
true.
Here’s a popular saying I saw on a church sign near my
home:
“God Will Never Give You More Than You Can
Bear”
Do you think that’s true? Does it have a biblical basis?
Some would point to 1 Cor. 10:13,
No temptation has overtaken you but what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way of escape so that you can stand up under it.
God will never allow you to experience temptation that is too
much to bear. True, but that refers to solicitation to sin,
enticement to evil. Temptations are not necessarily related to
troubles, trials, and suffering. So, there’s a problem with
the saying on that church sign. If the intent is to say that God
will never allow his people to have more trouble than they can
bear, it would seem to contradict what Paul wrote in 2 Cor.
1:8,
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
Listen to how other versions translate Paul’s words:
ESV - “…utterly burdened beyond our
strength”
NKJ - “…beyond measure, above strength”
NLT - “…crushed and completely
overwhelmed”
It got so bad for Paul that he thought he’d never live
through it! He faced hardships that were more than he could
humanly handle. While his suffering was certainly severe, it was
not unique. Any of us may some time experience troubles beyond
what we are able to bear. It would be better to base our
expectations for difficult times in the Christian life from
God’s Word than from the kind of popular sayings like the
one on that church sign board.
1st Corinthians chapter 1 provides helpful
insight into Paul’s outlook on the troubles that believers
often experience. He was realistic and didn’t pretend that
God will spare us from hard trials. There are some words in this
passage, in fact, that one might wish were not a part of the
Christian experience:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death (vs. 3-9).
Nine times, this passage speaks of difficult things:
“trouble” twice, “suffer, suffered, or
suffering” five times, “distressed” once,
“hardship” once. It all adds up to “great
pressure, far beyond our ability to endure…” (v.8).
It is clear, then, that Paul believed that even faithful
Christians are not immune to severe trials. “In fact,
everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted…” (2 Tim. 3:12). That’s the bad
news. But the good news is that there is every reason for
encouragement - even in the very face of severe trials.
Paul was realistic. He knew that if we follow
Christ for any length of time we will surely experience some form
of suffering. But he was not pessimistic. Mixed in with the words
listed above is another word he repeats nine times. There may be
trouble, but there is also “comfort.” There may be
suffering, but there is also “comfort.” There may be
distress or hardships, but there is also “comfort.”
Paul had every reason to encourage the Corinthians, therefore,
because he knew that whatever troubles came their way,
God’s “comfort” would be more than
sufficient!
When life’s difficulties seem unbearable God’s grace
and comfort will be equal to your need. His presence will bear
you up, Christian friend, and his supernatural help will be
sufficient. Our hardships may be quite different from
Paul’s but we can certainly identify with him when we face
seemingly overwhelming trials in this fallen world. God
hasn’t promised us an easy path, but he has promised to be
with us. “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
So we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not
fear…” (Heb.13:5-6 NKJ).
Paul not only lovingly encourages the Corinthians
with the promise of available comfort, but he also provides a
plan for handling whatever suffering may come their way. It is a
plan that is appropriate for any believer in the throes of
difficult times.
First, when trouble strikes, we must draw near to our heavenly
Father to receive the promised comfort. Paul speaks of him
as,
…the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our troubles… For just as the
sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through
Christ our comfort overflows (vs. 3-5).
We must call out to him for, “The LORD is near to the
brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18
ESV). He knows how you feel and has compassion on you. When
trouble overwhelms you, don’t let it warp your view of
God’s loving character. Terrible trials don’t mean
that God has forsaken you, or that your troubles come directly
from his hand. There are plenty of other sources for trouble in a
fallen world: the original rebellion of our first parents (Gen.
3), invisible spiritual enemies (Eph.6:10-12ff.), the sinful
choices of other human beings - or our own foolish or sinful
choices.
Yes, God often spares us from trouble; but he sometimes allows us
to suffer, and perhaps to even suffer greatly. Whatever the
source of our trials, God extends comfort to his redeemed
children - even when he allows trouble to correct a sinful,
stubborn attitude in us. Divine discipline comes from a loving
Father and it is always for our good (Heb. 12:5-13; 1 Cor.
11:31-32). And, as we confess and forsake sin, comfort
follows.
“Comfort” includes the idea of consolation and
encouragement. I remember my Mom’s comfort when I was a
little guy and came down with strep throat and a high fever. I
felt miserable, but my Mom took very good care of me. I still
remember her gently rubbing Vicks VapoRub on my throat and chest
and placing a damp, cool washcloth on my hot face. Just her
loving touch itself was very comforting.
I remember my Dad’s comfort too. After a little league
baseball game, I was very discouraged because I hadn’t
played very well. Dad took me out for a root beer float, to
console and encourage me. He reached over and squeezed my knee
and said something like, “Don’t let it get to you.
You’ll do better next game.” Because my Dad believed
in me, I eventually did do better. His encouragement and comfort
took some of the sting out of a bad experience. Like the most
loving parent, your Father in heaven will be there to comfort you
when you need him the most.
Second, when trials hit you hard, ask other believers to pray for
you. Paul told the Corinthian believers, “…you help
us by your prayers…”(vs.11). The great apostle felt
the need for the prayers of others. I don’t know how people
make it without being part of a good local fellowship, with close
friends who are there to pray for them in times of trouble. God
uses trials and troubles to humble us and bind us together with
fellow Christians. We’re commanded to bear one
another’s burdens, and if they’re to bear our
burdens, we need to “bare” that burden, i.e., we need
to let some fellow believers know about our struggle and tell
them we need their help and prayers. Don’t be too proud to
do that. (And don’t forget to pray for others when
they’re in need.)
Third, realize that pain can help prepare you to minister to
others: “God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we
can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves
have received from God” (vs. 4). There is no better
comforter than someone who’s been through deep trials and
suffering. What do you say to a believer who is experiencing
overwhelming troubles? How do you respond to him or her?
Hopefully not like Job’s comforters! They kept saying,
“Job, you must have committed some terrible sin. God
wouldn’t let you suffer so much if you were faithful to
him.” But they were wrong. At the end of the book, the LORD
rebuked them for their foolish theories (42:7-9). Job was the
most faithful man of his time, in God’s estimation -
blameless, upright, and a man of integrity (1:8; 2:3). His
suffering clearly came as a result of Satan’s
attacks.
Yes, it’s true, God had to give Satan permission to attack
Job before it could happen. If God hadn’t removed the
protective “hedge” that surrounded Job, the devil
couldn’t have harmed him. But, it didn’t happen
because of some failure on Job’s part. There is no evidence
of that, despite what some “faith teacher” may say.
And, God did not cause his suffering (1:6-2:10). His troubles
weren’t a payback for some terrible sins Job’s
friends assumed he must have committed.
It seems God allowed him to suffer intensely for a time to prove
that his faith was genuine, and to demonstrate that God was
worthy of love and loyalty - a truth which Satan’s slander
of Job seemed to deny by implication (1:9-11; 2:5). Yahweh
doesn’t have to bribe people to be true to him; he’s
worthy of worship, love and loyalty - even when he allows his
servants to go through hard trials and troubles. Job’s
faithfulness demonstrated that (13:15). And, in the end, the LORD
blessed Job more than he had in the earlier part of his life
(42:12-17).
Don’t be guilty of falsely judging a Christian who is
suffering intensely. And, don’t misjudge God, and blame him
for causing all the suffering! Cultivate the attitude described
by James:
We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is
an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we
see how the Lord’s plan finally ended in good, for he is
full of tenderness and mercy (5:11, NLT).
Weep with those who weep. Encourage the faint-hearted. Comfort
one another. And honor those who endure despite great suffering.
Those are the kinds of things the Bible says we should do for one
another. And we’ll be better equipped to do them if
we’ve traveled through deep sorrows and trials. When our
hearts have been broken by trouble and comforted by God,
we’ll be much better comforters than Job’s
friends.
Finally, let big problems open you to a bigger vision of
God’s power and grace. Notice Paul’s words,
…We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to
endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts
we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might
not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead (vs.
8b-9).
One reason God allowed the apostle to suffer such difficulties
was so he could learn a deeper level of faith. Paul was already a
man of faith. But any remaining temptations to self-dependence
must have been squeezed out of him by that overwhelming trial,
like the water is squeezed out of clothes by centrifugal force
during the spin cycle in a washer. Self-sufficiency must go if
we’re to be effective in our witness for Christ (2 Cor.
3:5). In our weakness, God’s power is perfected (2 Cor.
12:1-10). This is the paradoxical, and sometimes painful,
truth.
Paul discovered that God is far greater than any trouble he could
face. Though he thought for sure that the trial would kill him,
God delivered him! It was, to Paul, almost like a miraculous
resurrection from the dead! God came through at the last minute.
He is indeed “the God of 11:59:59.”2
God’s power is enough to sustain us in anything. He may
allow us to experience more trouble than we can handle, but he
can handle it! He’s the Lord of the impossible! When things
look hopeless, hope in him! God can heal. He can deliver. He can
provide. He can transform. He can even raise the dead!
Resurrection power is at the heart of the Gospel. Christ
“was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of
God” (2 Cor. 13:4 NKJ). In a situation that looked like a
tragedy, God was at work, through weakness, on a cross, providing
salvation from sin and victory over death for all who receive his
grace. If you have trusted his grace, calling on him for
salvation, his power is available to you.
God is sovereign and doesn’t always deal with his people in
the same way. He may allow one of his servants to endure
suffering to the point of death, as he did James, who was put to
death at the order of Herod (Acts 12:1-2). Or, he may deliver
another servant after a short trial, as he did Peter, who was
rescued from jail by an angel before Herod could kill him (Acts
12:3-11).
Even if the LORD allows a particular trial to finish us off, his
comfort will sustain us. And, death is not the end! We belong to
“the God who raises the dead” (vs.9). The Lord Jesus
will come again and raise his people to eternal life!
That’s why Paul could confidently confess, “Yes, we
live under constant danger of death because we serve
Jesus…But we continue to preach…We know that the
same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus
and present us to himself along with you” (2 Cor.4:11-14
NLT). That’s the promise: unending life in the presence of
God - happy, holy, and healthy forever!
Sometime, this side of eternity, God may let us go through a very
painful trial. But when God allows believers to see more trouble
than we can bear, we can be sure he’ll be there for us.
Everything’s eventually going to be okay, no matter what
happens. God will finally wipe away every tear from our eyes and
remove every trial (Rev. 21:3-4). Nothing can ultimately defeat
those who rely on Him.
When trials and troubles are more than we can bear, our compassionate, almighty God will be there to bear us up. His grace and power can get us through anything, no matter what.