PRAISE HIM – DESPITE THE PAIN AND THE SUFFERING

How should one understand the words of the American lawyer Horatio G. Spafford, who said “It is Well With My Soul” on this very day, 22 November in 1873 when his ship was passing over the very spot where his four daughters had drowned, just a month ago, when their French passenger ship Ville du Havre, while crossing the Atlantic had collided with another ship and sank? The words that Spafford wrote became the now famous English hymn, “When Peace Like A River Attendeth My Way.” How could one even think of such soul stirring words, while facing such great a tragedy, pain and anguish? Is it humanly possible? If so, how and why?

The world may not grasp the inner workings of how a Christian can display such an attitude towards God, and “PRAISE HIM – DESPITE THE PAIN AND THE SUFFERING.” Our Happiness and joy is not based in us, nor in the resources we have at our disposal. Rather, our happiness and joy are founded upon the goodness and grace of God, which is all too well demonstrated towards us, on the Cross of Calvary. Therefore a Christian can boldly sing…
– “​1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” – Psalm 34:1

Paul, writing to the Christians in the early Church, has these words of advise for them.
– “18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Prophet Habakkuk, writing in the face of injustice, evil and wickedness, pens a “A Hymn of Faith” when he writes…
– “17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labour of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.” – Habakkuk 3:17-19

Job, the saintly man who stood firmly for God despite such unprecedented pain and suffering poured upon him, is an example of Christian faith and steadfastness in the face of pain and suffering.
– “20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” – Job 1:20-22

Job’s response to his wife, is another fine example of how a Christian should take all the suffering and the pain that may fall upon him. Job displayed great clarity of thought, deep understanding of who God is, and a proper understanding of God’s character. We also see in Job’s response, his unflinching faith in the goodness of God, despite all what he was personally experiencing. This is steadfastness of faith in God, in the face of problems, pain, and “hopeless” situation.
– “9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” – Job 2:9-10

Timothy Keller writing in his book, “Walking with God through Pain and Suffering” has a beautiful sum up of suffering, and the Biblical teaching on the same.
– “Some suffering is given in order to chastise and correct a person for wrongful patterns of life (as in the case of Jonah imperiled by the storm), some suffering is given not to correct past wrongs but to prevent future ones (as in the case of Joseph sold into slavery), and some suffering has no purpose other than to lead a person to love God more ardently for himself alone and so discover the ultimate peace and freedom.”

What Horatio Spafford demonstrated in his suffering, is what the Bible teaches us to practice, as the disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ. Unless we grasp fully what the Bible teaches us, we cannot truly praise God while undergoing suffering. 
– “Suffering is unbearable if you aren’t certain that God is for you and with you.” – Timothy Keller
– “You don’t really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” – Timothy Keller

How are things going on with us this morning? How are we responding when life gets tough and troublesome? May we be found among those faithful ones, who stand steadfastly with the LORD, and choose to walk faithfully and obediently, praising God and worshipping Him, in the face of pain and suffering. Even so, the LORD help us.