Suffering Beyond Belief

As I sit in my study this Holy Sabbath Day I cannot help but reflect on this past week and the many people that crossed my path affected by pain and suffering. I have read about and watched the news clips showing those most unfortunate folks in the Midwest tornados with homes, personal belongings, and loved ones snatched from their grasps of life. I can say I have never experienced anything like that and I hope and pray that I never will. But who knows what the future holds? I have heard the many prayer requests from my family and loved ones close by and from the many dear Brothers and Sisters here and from around the world this week who desire that I help pray for them and their situation. Some have suffered this week from loss of family members and or some have suffered from hospital stays in which they underwent some scary and disconcerting operations. Some no doubt, have suffered in auto accidents with blunt force trauma, and some from laceration caused by falling or flying debris from extreme weather. In addition, there are those who have requested prayer this week that have no other recourse than to sit in their chair and cry, suffering in pain with no relief in sight. Those bewildered souls begging God for a small miracle and crying for help to endure this physical suffering. If it is any consolation at all, I know there is one thing that I know and count on for sure; prayer changes the circumstances and our very lives, or does it?

If we really think about it, some of us could have made better decisions in our lives that would have had better outcomes. Nevertheless, there are those who definitely had no say in the matter at all except praying to God for some kind of miracle to take place to relieve them from the anxiety and suffering. I have always said of my life and I admit sometimes it just doesn’t help to say, it can always get worse than it is, even when the daily activities of our lives gets extreme. So many times, we tend to forget we have in our presence an extreme God and HE is always in control even when it seems things are out of control. It can be said that God allows things to get out of control so He can prove to us who is in control. We can see this evidence of this statement unfolding in the form of miracles that have presented themselves in the most precarious of ways.

The Holy Spirit of God impressed it upon me to write this morning as an encouragement to those who are still looking for answers to their plight in this life. God encouraged me to help these dear loved ones to look to Jehovah God’s son, JESUS. There are many things I do not know and have probably never experienced as some of you have, but God knows about your suffering and pain. In some way or form, I feel that the LORD JESUS (YESHUA) has experienced more than we can ever believe He has. Yes, I can find that very easy to say because I have no experience in the matters of pain and suffering as some of you have experienced. My heart is touched and wrenched as I watch the suffering in your eyes; I am encouraged to lead you to the very one who has been through it all and probably in just one day or maybe two. You say that is not possible. I say to that, don’t be quite so sure.

As I remember the Scriptural accounts of the betrayal, trial, and crucifixion of Christ in Matthew chapters 26 and 27, I can see many things that some of you are going through in this life. I want to encourage you to try to find the suffering in Christ’s experience that compares to what you are going through. You might be thinking, but Jesus doesn’t know what I am feeling and He just doesn’t know what I have suffered every day of my miserable life. I plead with you, please, do not discount the LORD JESUS that easy without searching for the answer to your life’s pain and suffering.

First, I would like to point out that JESUS experienced abandonment just as you have and people that you knew won’t even show up to check on you and see what is going on in your life.

“But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” Matthew 26:56.

Having feelings of being all alone? Jesus knows exactly how you feel and shares your thoughts on this experience.

Secondly, I imagine that you are thinking to yourself, but no one understands me and does not believe a word I say about what is happening to me. If I only had one person that would believe me, I would be so relieved, and this would be easier to bare.

“But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.  (59)  Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;  (60)  But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, (61) And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.  (62)  And the high priest arose, and said unto him, ‘answerest thou nothing?’ What is it which these witness against thee?  (63)  But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” Matthew 26:58-63

You might be thinking that what you are going through is a little shameful and have a load of guilt to bare all by yourself. How many times have you been slapped in the face because someone did not believe you? You are thinking that JESUS just doesn’t have a clue.

“Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.  (66)  What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.  (67) Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, (68) Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” Matthew 26:65-68

On the other hand, you might be thinking that your so-called friends won’t come around anymore because they just don’t want to get involved in your life of suffering. Just how many times have people flat out denied even knowing you? JESUS just doesn’t have a clue does He?

“Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.  (70)  But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.  (71)  And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.  (72)  And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.  (73)  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.  (74)  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.” Matthew 26:69-74

How many times have you been questioned by doctors, nurses, specialists, and or Social Services trying to understand but always miss the important parts that you have tried to explain over and over. It seems that they are deaf to all your explanations. Yet JESUS just doesn’t have a clue doses He.

“And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.  (12)  And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.  (13)  Then said Pilate unto him, ‘Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?’  (14) And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.”
Matthew 27:11-14

How many times have you witnessed the doctors and nurses, or Social Services believe someone else that you know told lies just to get the treatment they believed they deserved?

“Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.  (16)  And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.  (17)  Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?  (18)  For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.  (19)  When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.  (20)  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.  (21)  The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.  (22)  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.  (23)  And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.  (24)  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.” Matthew 27:15-24

By now, I feel sure you can see with me that no matter where we are or what we are going through, the LORD JESUS has been there and done that, so to speak. It is human nature that we have a tendency to feel isolated when we hurt and are suffering but when we get in that spot, JESUS moves in closer to us because He wants us to feel His presence and His love for us. I have found through suffering, JESUS always is motivated to us the more when we feel somewhat the suffering and anxiety that HE also experienced. Most of us desire a closer relationship with Christ JESUS but the truth is we can experience this only by suffering a little while in this life. It seems that you and JESUS have more than you thought in common after all.

Peter says; “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” I Peter 2:19 Or in other words and paraphrased, if we know in our minds and hearts that we did the right thing at the right time, but suffered for it anyway, God still gives us credit for trying even when we see it as failure.

You might say, but this Scripture does not apply to what I am experiencing. Oh, but it does. God allows you to go through many things in this life that seems there is no explanation for it. However, if you are daily at the mercy of doctors, lawyers, health specialists and Social Services authorities, you will experience quite a bit of what JESUS went through in His last days on this earth. You will see with me, He suffered greatly from His peers and acquaintances, not to mention His closest friends. Because you are a child of the MOST HIGH GOD JEHOVAH, you are accredited for doing what is right in His eyes so long as you have faith in the living Son of God, JESUS. If not, then we will face the Judgment Seat of Christ to try to explain why we failed, if we dare say so in the light of truth.