"The tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them,” M. Scott Peck wrote, "is the primary basis of all human mental illness." Carl Jung said, "Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering." Cicero wrote, "No man can be brave who thinks pain the greatest evil nor temperate, who considers pleasure the highest good." My friend, Larry Crabb, says that we all have a place of pain and we try to go any place but there. He says that, in order to get to a place of wholeness, we hive to keep on probing and probing at the pain until it is so bad that only God can fix it

I don't always agree with Dr. Peck, hardly ever agree with Jung, haven't read Cicero in years (and didn't understand him when I did), and almost always agree with Dr. Crabb. But, when you get those four saying essentially the same thing, you probably ought to pay attention

Now, if you understood what I just wrote, are busy, and don't have the time to read any further, you don't have to. The rest is commentary.

As I write this, my back is hurting. I don't know what I did to it. I could have pulled a muscle while working in the yard on Saturday, I may have turned the wrong way or slept in the wrong position, or maybe it's just age. It could be sin. But it really does hurt. I asked God to do something about it. I told him that I had a lot of religious stuff to do for Him and that I could do it better and with more efficiency if He would just heal my back.

He didn't. Not only that, He asked me where in the world I got the dumb idea that, if I belonged to Him and served Him, my back wouldn't hurt.

We get thousands of questions here at Key Life, and a great number of them concern the problem of why there is emotional and physical suffering in the life of the person asking the question. Let me give you a sample:

"I've been depressed for months. My doctor said that I ought to be on some medication but I told him I was a Christian and that God would make it better. He hasn't. What do I do?"

"They told me at church that, if I had faith, my daughter would get well. I guess I don't have enough faith because she is worse."

"My friends say that Christians shouldn't have emotional problems because we have God. Is that true?"

"Isn't God for marriage? My husband just left me for another woman.

I've prayed and prayed and he still left. If it is God's will for my marriage to be a good one, what am I doing wrong?"

"My mother just died of cancer. I don't think I believe in God anymore. How could He allow this?"

"I struggle with an addiction to pornography and don't have any place to turn. I am doubting my salvation and the power of God to help me. I've prayed about it, but it doesn't help. Do you think I'm a Christian?"

"My boy is on drugs and I just found out. I don't know what his mother and I have done wrong. We are a Christian family and have taught our children Christian values. And now this. Can you help me understand?"

The Bible is quite clear about some things that aren't fixed. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:18-23).

There is, of course, some good news in that passage of Scripture, but there are also some incontrovertible and unpleasant realities we ignore at our own peril. For instance, the passage says that we have suffering in "this present time" and that there is "futility," "bondage of corruption", "groaning" and "pangs." You say, What's the good news? I'm going to get to that, but good news isn't really good news until you know, understand and accept the bad news.

I have never understood how Christians, who claim to follow One who Ended up hanging spread eagle on the town garbage heap between two thieves, could ever come up with the crazy idea that life is easy, that we won't suffer, and that God's primary purpose in the world is to make us happy and to give us The "good life." In fact, Jesus was quite clear on the subject. They said He said: "In this world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33).

Paul talks about the "fellowship of His sufferings' (Philippians 3:8 & 10) and sometimes even rejoices in his own suffering (Colossians 1:24). When Paul was called to serve Christ, the Bible says that Jesus said He was going to show Paul how much he must suffer (Acts 9:15-16). And, at one point, Paul seems quite proud of his suffering (11 Corinthians 11:23-28). Paul, on at least one occasion, was so depressed that he despaired of life itself (11 Corinthians 1:8).

Steve, you say, this is getting depressing. What's the good news? Well, I've used up almost all of this space talking about the bad news, so I'll have to make this quick. Besides, with my back hurting, you're lucky to get any good news at all.

First, the good news is that you are part of the human race. Quit beating up on yourself about the bad stuff. Stop asking what you did wrong, how you can change to make it better, and why God is punishing you. You didn't, you can't, and He isn't. Peter said, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you" (I Peter 4:12).

Second, don't forget that God is still God, that He is in control of circumstances, and that He likes to say "yes" to our requests. So ask Him. You aren't without resource and He does like you a lot. Sometimes He will change the circumstances. After all, He likes you and one never knows. Paul said, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request- be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7).

Third, remember that all things have a purpose (Romans 8:28) and that God will provide what you need to bear what you have to bear (I Corinthians 10:13). 1 know. It sometimes doesn't feel like that's true. But your nose is still above the water and He is there. Trust Him with the bad stuff. Besides, what else are you going to do?

Fourth, embrace the bad stuff. Run to it. So many of us, in our pain, never allow ourselves to experience the power and grace of God in our suffering. The point isn't that we have it bad; the point is thinking we don't have it bad, trying to avoid having it bad, or pretending that is isn't bad, and what that does to us.

In other words, if you don't think you have a problem, you can't fix it; if you pretend you don't have a problem, you can't fix anybody else's problem; and if you believe that you shouldn't have a problem, you will kill yourself with guilt over your problem. The principle is this: There is a direct correlation between your willingness to face the darkness of your own pain and your ability to live fully. Paul said that he rejoiced in his suffering.

Have you ever noticed that people who have everything are sometimes quite silly and superficial? We all know the prettiest girl in the class who is vacuous, or the star athlete who missed the question about two plus two, or the bright young executive who can't hold down a job. It is insane to lend credence to the political and social views of movie stars and wealthy philanthropists because, with some significant exceptions, they simply haven't lived long enough or hurt deeply enough to have anything to say. Buddy Greene, my favorite recording artist, told me once that he asked God to increase the sales of his recordings and the crowds at his concerts. "Do you know what God told me?" he asked me. I allowed that I didn't. "He told me," Buddy said, grinning, "that if He gave me an inch, I would take a mile."

And speaking of Buddy, he has a song on one of his CDs about broken roads. The message of the song is that every broken road leads to God. If you refuse to walk on the broken roads, or pretend that they aren't broken, or believe that there aren't any broken roads, you'll never get to Him.

Matter of fact, you can't get from here to there that way.

He asked me to remind you.

Bless,
Steve Brown*
Shared from the following Resource:
Keylife - P.O. Box 945000, Maitland,
Florida 32794-5000
Phone: 407-539-0001 Fax: 407-539-0121 /
Web site:www.keylife.org / E-mail: steve@keylife.org
*(Professor; Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, FL)

“As I write this, my back is hurting.”

"In this world you will have tribulation"

“ …don't forget that God is still God, that He is in control of circumstances, and that He likes to say "yes" to our requests. “

“ …remember that all things have a purpose …”

Last Modified: 08/09/2006