Through Affliction

 To afflict means to cause continued pain to the body or mind. By that definition, millions are living through affliction at this current moment. Tens of millions lost their jobs due to the pandemic shut down. Millions struggle with the continued affliction of mental illness and others with garden variety depression. In a world of social distancing, countless numbers feel the affliction of isolation and loneliness. Others grieve because they cannot see their loved ones in assisted living facilities. 

Where is God in all this? There are two main lines of thought on this. One line is to say God in an infinitely wise sovereign ruler. In this mindset, one believes God, at the very least, allows people to suffer. Adherents to this philosophy would quickly point out how God allowed Satan to afflict Job. 

The other line of thinking is that God is a manager. People make choices and afflictions occur. Tragedies just happen. People suffer.  God is left to manage the pain in a responsive mode. He is not so much in control. He manages problems for the sufferers in response to their afflictions. 

Most people would do anything to avoid affliction. Who wants to suffer? I certainly do not and I am betting you are right there with me. When I take an honest look at my life, I have suffered. My family has suffered. Not life and death sufferings. We have known affliction. When I look deeper, I can see how many times God worked through affliction. Don't take my word for it. 

I point to three people in history who suffered. They all were afflicted. God worked through their afflictions to produce something beautiful and useful for His purposes. 

John Bunyan

John Bunya was imprisoned centuries ago for preaching the Bible. He could have been released at anytime if we would promise not to preach the scriptures anymore, which he refused to do. This meant his family living in harsh poverty. What did Bunyan do with his prison years? He wrote the second best selling book of all time. The book is titled Pilgrim's Progress. Many have been helped by this book. 

Think of it. Bunyan behind bars writing on whatever he could get his hands on for paper and writing sentence after sentence knowing his family suffered. He wrote against the backdrop of wondering if they had enough food to eat. He wrote staring temptation in the face to relent from preaching the Bile to gain his freedom. His convictions remained firm and he kept writing. 

Through affliction God used Bunyan to write a book that has reached far more people than his preaching ministry ever could. Out of the suffering of Bunyan, God produced something beautiful and useful for others who suffered. 

William Cowper

Cowper suffered from the affliction of mental illness. He fought depression most of his adult life. More than once he tried to take his own life. Nothing delivered him. Not worship. Not sermons. Not private devotions. Not even the loving counsel from friends. He suffered from mental illness even to the end of his life. 

Through affliction Cowper wrote poetry and hymns. Though he wrote hundreds, I only want to discuss two of them. He wrote the hymn There is a Fountain. Let me include just a few of the words from that hymn written close to 300 years ago. 

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day, and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away. 

How could a man suffering from chronic depression write such a beautiful song that has helped millions over the centuries? God did it through him. Somehow God used the furnace of affliction to forge an iron clad faith that did not give up on God or His mercy. 

My favorite Cowper hymn is one only one music minister I served with ever sang it. Most are not even aware it is the hymnal. The message is both powerful and timeless. It is titled God Moves In A Mysterious Way. 

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform, He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. You fearful saints fresh courage take the clouds you so much dread, are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense but trust Him for His grace, behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. Blind unbelief is sure to ere and scan His work in vain, God is His own interpreter and He will make it plain. 

Each line is profound. Who hasn't struggled to understand a frowning providence or to judge His work in vain. Those words have helped me through many afflictions. God has used them to build courage to get through some dark nights and some low valleys. 

I believe Cowper could write such profound words because he wrestled with those issues in his own life. He wrote to himself to remind himself of God's goodness, faithfulness and omnipotent rule. 

David Brainerd

Many Christians have never heard the name David Brainerd. I would hope people at Spring Creek have because, I have written about him before and certainly talked about him at different times. 

Brainerd was a missionary with a huge problem. He suffered from tuberculosis. He worked alone. He lived alone. He suffered alone. Brainerd devoted Himself to God and the missionary work. Brainerd also kept a diary like so many saints from history. 

Tragically tuberculosis caused Brainerd to leave the mission field where he labored to win Native Americans to Christ. By the infinite wisdom and design of God, Brainerd lived out his last days in the home of Jonathan Edwards. He died at the age of 29. By most people's standards it would appear Brainerd's life had little impact. 

Edwards read Brainerd's diary and was deeply moved. He thought the diary could help others, so he published it. God has used that diary for nearly three centuries to call and inspire thousands of missionaries to the mission field. God worked through even the affliction of tuberculosis. 

I don't know what afflictions you are going through. I do know God can work through afflictions. He can use your pain and suffering to touch more people than you can fathom. He has done it before. How might He want to use your afflictions to help fellow sufferers get through the hard times and to hold onto their faith. 

I am thankful for Bunyan, Cowper and Brainerd. God used their suffering to help me through some very hard times. I hope that my afflictions might help some who suffer on their journey to make it home to Heaven. What a day of rejoicing that will be.