Word of Encouragement (5/29/2020)

Here is another quote, which adds one more perspective on our suffering:

“Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise physician prescribes because we need them; and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires. Let us trust in his skill and thank him for his prescriptions” (John Newton).

It is unfortunate that we need trials. Newton says that we need them like we need medicines. We need medicines because we are not well physically. We need trials because we are not as healthy as we can be spiritually. Listen to what Paul says in this regard:

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (2 Cor. 12:7).

“The surpassing greatness of the revelations” refers to the vision of the third heaven, which God allowed Paul to witness (2 Cor. 12:2). There was something so great, so marvelous about this vision that it had the potential to make Paul conceited. So great was this temptation that he needed a thorn in the flesh to keep him from becoming conceited. John Calvin said, “the human heart is a perpetual idol factory.” It seems like even Paul was not immune to this. We are geniuses when it comes to turning God’s special favor or blessing into an occasion for sin. And this is why we need trials like medicines.

We may think everything is well with us when we are quite ill with some sins or with certain sinful attitudes, which, left alone, can bring much destruction to our lives and damage to the advancement of God’s kingdom. But God our great Physician knows. How blessed we are to be under the care of this divine Physician! Not only does He know exactly what our sickness is; He also knows exactly what medicine we need as well as how much and how often and for how long. So, when trials come, let us not complain, saying, “Why me?” or “I don’t need this!” They are exactly what we need for our full recovery from our illnesses unto spiritual vitality and usefulness.

What trials are you going through now? What do you think is the sickness God wants to heal you from? What should be your attitude in bearing this trial? “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Pet. 2:24).

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