1 Corinthians 12:14-27

In my prayers for you all, and in carrying out my shepherding duties in the past few weeks, something has really jumped out and grabbed my attention and stirred my heart… In Christ’s flock here at GBF and in those believers not in GBF, but immediately connected to us by various relationships, there is at present an unusual and unsettling level of suffering and pain. We’ve had various illnesses, some acute, some chronic and along with those a lot of uncertainty. And where there is physical pain and illness, there is also emotional and spiritual suffering. It makes one stop and ponder, doesn’t it? What in the world is going on, and how would our Lord Jesus have us respond and think, both as those who suffer, and as those who come alongside them.

God is at work among us to grow us and conform us more and more to the character of Christ our Lord. Of this I am Scripturally certain and accept by faith. At the same time, I want to convey to all of us a caution: and that is the very human tendency to want and expect to escape the suffering and aim for a return to, “our normal life”, to put hard times behind us so we can get on with what we want to do and experience. This can be growth-stunting. We should want more.

As CS Lewis observed, pain is a part of the real evil reality in this present sin- broken world, but God uses it for eternal good, “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” For His beloved saints, God’s character and promises are at stake in the midst of suffering. My faith is in the Lord that He has not fallen short in His care for us, but is faithful and true to our good and His glory.