When is God most glorified?
That’s a good question to ask. The answer to that may actually set us back on our heels for a short period to time. Or maybe a bit longer. Here’s why:
Most, or many, of us tend to think, or are told, that it is always God’s will to heal us. Or to have good things happen to us. We loathe pain and discomfort as more than just a glitch because we see little or no purpose in it. What can be so good about pain anyway? When I had my knee replaced in 11/24, I knew pain. I had been warned to keep up on the pain meds, to not let the pain get ahead of me. Since I refused to take the oxy the way it was prescribed due to horror stories I have heard, the pain did indeed get ahead of me. It kept me up at night and I was unable to even stay in bed one minute at first. The pain was real. The pain brought tears to my eyes multiple times. But in that pain was healing. And I can also say that in that pain were cries to God for relief.
So…can God be glorified in the pain? Most definitely. Can God be glorified in a life facing a grim cancer diagnosis? Most definitely. Can God be glorified in a life facing a divorce? Most definitely. Can God be glorified in a long-term diagnosis where there is no cure? Most definitely.
Like everyone else, I have no idea what the future holds. I have no crystal ball (as if that would help). I certainly won’t consult some huckster, a joke, or a tool of Satan. No. I will place my future in the hands of the ONE who does know the future. See, I believe my greatest comfort is in knowing Jesus. I believe nothing can separate me from His love. I believe that everything that happens to me passes through His hands of love first and He will use it for His glory and my good.
Lest you think I have received some grim diagnosis…I haven’t. However…I have a friend who is facing a grim cancer diagnosis. I have a “sheep” from the church I pastor who is facing a divorce due to an abusive situation. I have “sheep”/friends who are moving hundreds of miles away in just a few weeks. I have a “sheep” who may be facing a long-term diagnosis where there is no cure.
All painful to see and be a part of but in all of this, I firmly believe God will be glorified. Just don’t ask me how.
Although I can’t recall the exact words from C. S. Lewis, he did write that suffering pain is God’s megaphone for getting our attention. It can be the time that we most rely on Him and feel closer than ever before. May He be there for your friends who are going through turmoil and uncertainty, Bill.
Blessings!
Something like “God whispers to us in our joy and screams in our pain.” I recall the quote but I’m sure that is not accurate. Thanks for the great comment Martha.
Pain is hard to deal with, no matter what kind of pain it is. Whether it’s a disease, broken relationships, walking along side of someone you love watching them hurt, pain hurts no matter how you are in it. Understanding how to glorify God in the middle of all that is also so hard, but so important. We cannot understand everything or how God uses those situations to grow us, and to glorify Him, but we can trust God. I believe we can always ask God to help us, enlighten us, teach us, we just cannot question God’s reasons. We will not understand all the whys here on earth. The Bible teaches us a lot on trials, we see suffering, it is clear we will have trials. God also promises to never leave us, to lean on Him, and that God’s love is unmeasurable, and sometimes that is all you can cling to.
It is hard to deal with Gail, whether it is ours or someone we love. I also believe we can trust Him wholeheartedly.
Bill, it’s a freeing reality when we want God to be glorified and know He will be without figuring out how that’ll happen or what it’ll look like or what i need to maneuver to get us there.
May He give us peace in the waiting room and freedom in how we put one foot in front of the other.
We know from past experience that He is able.
Praying.
You speak truth here Linda. It is freeing to know He will be glorified in all things, even in the waiting. And yes, He is able. That is why I trust Him.