The Righteous Suffer, Too!
Eighteen years ago, I served as a pastor on a retreat. The power of God was at work: women were converted, they were delivered from demons, and 70 to 80 people were baptized in one day. But one day, suffering came!
I was three months pregnant. When I asked the Lord what we should name our baby, I felt He wanted us to choose “Isaac.” That made me wonder if I was going to be asked to give up my child, as Abraham was asked to give up his.
We fell asleep and I woke up because I started bleeding. Realizing this, we went to the doctor and he told us that our son had unfortunately died. He was a boy.
Some asked us the question, “But why you...?” Well, the righteous also suffer in this world of evil. But the present sufferings do not compare with the glory that will be revealed to us. Let us remember Israel that suffered exile and captivity by a nation that deviated from the Lord.
Let us remember Jesus Christ, holy and just, who came to save humanity, but was rejected, wounded, beaten, and humiliated. When we suffer hardships, we are often judged, but the power of God continues to work. In the midst of this situation, I was able to see my father give his life to the Lord and I was able to comfort my sister, who lost her son a month later.
Many righteous people call and write to our Vida Dura program prayer line. Many would prefer not to go through trials and pain. However, it is the Word of God and prayer that comforts them and helps them remember God’s love and power, while increasing their faith.
I remember a young woman who called asking for prayer. She was in the terminal phase of stomach cancer and the doctors had removed half of her stomach. She called desperately from the hospital where she watched our show and felt that she was losing her faith. She was wondering why God had abandoned her. We prayed with her on more than one occasion. A year later she called on the day that she was discharged from the hospital. She wanted to testify of God’s power over her life and how He had healed her of cancer.
For others, their victory has been passing from this life to the next. They have obtained immortal life.
Those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isaiah 51:11 NIV).
Many things may happen to you in life. Some things you will understand over time, and others perhaps not. Some will be for the glory of God to manifest itself in your life, and others will help you to reach maturity in your walk in God. Whatever way that suffering may come, God controls the outcome and fights for you to come out strong.
Meanwhile, take the hand of the Lord, day by day, through the adversities that may come and know that you are founded on the Rock. Your house will not fall.
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. (1 Thessalonians 5:8).
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Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
