28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:28-30 (NASB)
Sometimes God brings things into our lives that seem devastating. Others may also see these things in our lives and question that God even exists….
They cannot conceive of a loving God who would cause or allow debilitating diseases that are always fatal into the fragile bodies of those who profess faith in the Saviour. However, I am always amazed at the deep, rock hard faith displayed by those in the center of these things, whether it is the one suffering or a close family member. As I attempt to minister to these folks, feeling 100% inadequate to do so, I am the one who is encouraged by their attitude and Christlike spirit that seeks to build me up in our Lord. It is then that I view my own walk and am ashamed.
I view my bad attitude about those things that seem to always interfere with my timing and then compare my self-centeredness to that godly patience and joy in the one suffering, thereby wondering why God puts up with my immaturity and self-focused selfishness. Then I see how irrational is our rage is over hitting every red light between our house and church or work going both ways for weeks at time. When we compare these things to the reality of a fellow warrior who has been faithfully fighting the good fight, contending for the faith then finding out that he has the most aggressive form of ALS then we are ashamed. When he encourages us in the Lord, rejoicing that he is blessed by our ministries then all of our fleshly focus is brought before our eyes to our shame. It also tears down walls of resistance that we have constructed in our hearts thereby muting the voice of the Holy Spirit. God is a magnificent surgeon of the heart.