Faithful
Sufferers
By Susan Klein
“Rabbi, who sinned,
this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his
parents sinned,” Jesus said, “but this happened so that the work of God may be
displayed in his life.”
John
9:2-3 (NIV)
The
Gospels are filled with examples of people being miraculously healed by Jesus.
In the above story, Jesus is walking along with His disciples when they come
across a man who was blind since birth. The disciples assume (by their
question) that surely someone in the man’s family had sinned greatly to bring
on such a tragedy. But Jesus enlightens them with truth. His blindness was an intentional act of God, happening so that others might
see the work God was going to do through him. He was chosen to be blind. Jesus
then does something peculiar, yet purposeful. He spits on some dirt, pats it
into a wad of mud and smears it on the man’s eyes. He receives sight. Lives are
impacted. The work of God is displayed.
But,
what about the countless others who are not healed? We don’t read their stories
in Scripture. Many suffer, not all are healed. It’s a difficult calling, to
suffer for God’s purpose, but many are called to do just that. Maybe it’s you.
Perhaps you (or someone you know) were born with a condition that you’ve had to
endure your whole life. “Why not heal me?” you question. “You healed the blind
man, and the bleeding woman, and the leper…” Why not? Same reason. So that the
work of God may be displayed in your life.
This
very message is conveyed in the Kutless song, “Even If.”
You
are God, You are good
Forever
faithful One
Even
if the healing
Even
if the healing doesn’t come
Lord
we know your ways are not our ways
So
we set our faith in who you are…
You’re
still the Great and Mighty One
We
trust you always
You’re
working all things for our good
We’ll
sing your praise (1)
Can
you trust in Him? Are you willing to
accept the suffering you’ve been allowed, and trust that God is good, and
always faithful? Even if you (or your loved one) are never healed, will you
believe in and sing the praises of the Great and Mighty One who has allowed
this to happen in your life so that His wondrous works might be displayed?
GOING
DEEPER:
1. Discover
what happens when you sing a familiar praise song in the midst of your
suffering. Or use the song above by
clicking on this link: “Even
If” by Kutless.
2. Recognize
that your suffering may be preparing someone else for blessing, and be willing
to be used.
FURTHER
READING:
James
5:10-11; 1 Peter 5:10
(1)
Even If lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Susan is a We Women
Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy
tutoring and working with inner-city youth.
