In his book, "Uncommon Adventures," Mark Tabb writes that he was asking God "why does suffering exist" as he walked into a hospital room to visit his friend Ruth Smith.
She had inoperable cancer and Mark was praying about what he could say to comfort her or give her hope. He quickly discovered that God had him there to listen, not talk.
Ruth was sitting in her room, waiting for the orderlies to finish changing the linen. Other than her hair, there was nothing in her appearance to indicate anything was wrong. Peace radiated from her. She began to tell Mark how thankful she was that God had allowed her to walk down the path of suffering this disease brought on.
"I've always been a Martha," she said, "too busy serving to take the time to sit at the feet of Jesus. But God has used this cancer to slow me down so that I can get to know Him in ways I never did before."
Mark writes this: "I was asking God why she had to suffer; she was thanking Him for the experience! She also told me that God had given her a new ministry to other cancer patients. Many of them weren't ready to die. They were angry and frightened."
She shared their sorrows and ministered to their pain just like Jesus did 2000 years ago for all of us.
The Bible says in Hebrews, chapter 2, "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."
I'm talking to someone on the day I write this who is going through suffering and pain. The promise today is for you. Because Jesus died as a man He is "touched by the feelings of our infirmities." And because Jesus is our resurrected savior you can turn to Him in all situations.
God will help you with whatever you're going through. Just let Him.
God bless you and have a happy Easter Resurrection celebration.
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Jonathan Watson is pastor of the Bella Vista Assembly of God. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Religion on 04/12/2017