God’s Gifts – Joy

Why do we have to suffer? Wouldn’t it be just as meaningful in terms of your faith if you had lived a life of contentment, devoid of suffering, so that there would be so much more room for joy? Think of all the wasted time spent in suffering. There was that financial problem you had last year. There were days and weeks on end when you needed to focus on solving the problems. Those days you were sick just made it worse. On the face of it it would seem that suffering is a very inefficient way of getting things done, from a divine perspective anyway.

Arthur Gordon relates his story of being stricken with polio at age three, so his poverty stricken parents abandon him at a New York City hospital. Taken in by a foster family, and moved to Georgia. There he met Maum Jean, an elderly black woman who took that frail, lost, lonely little boy into her heart. For six years, she daily massaged his weak legs; administering her own hydrotherapy in a nearby creek; and encouraged him spiritually with her stories, songs, and prayers.

Gordon writes, “Night after night Maum Jean continued the messaging and praying. Then one morning, when I was about twelve, she told me she had a surprise for me. She led me out into the yard, placed me with my back against an oak tree; I can feel the rough bark of it to this day. She took away my crutches and braces. She moved back a dozen paces and told me that the Lord had spoken to her in a dream. He had said that the time had come for me to walk. ‘So now,’ said Maum Jean, ‘I want you to walk over to me.’

My instant reaction was fear. I knew I couldn’t walk unaided. I had tried. I shrank back against the solid support of the tree. Maum Jean continued to urge me. I burst into tears. I begged. Her voice rose suddenly, ‘You can walk, boy! The Lord has spoken! Now walk over here.’ Somehow, impelled by something stronger than fear, I took a faltering step, and another, and another, until I reached Maum Jean and fell into her arms, both of us weeping. It was two more years before I could walk normally, but I never used the crutches again.” (Arthur Gordon, A Touch of Wonder)

What joy Gordon must have experienced when he finally reached the loving arms of his Maum Jean. Undoubtedly the pain from his withered limbs must have been excruciating with every step that he took. Yet, a kind of joy he had never experienced before waited for him at the end of that walk. Through the pain he had achieved a peace that he had longed for but never been able to achieve.

Why do we suffer? One good reason we do is because God always has something far more joyful in mind for us than we can imagine (see Romans 8:28). And, because we can’t, we are liable to stand with our backs against the comforting walls of our lives without the least ambition to find that joy. And so, God beckons us in pain, in suffering, in hardship and sorrow to walk to Him all the while urging us on with His gentle yet compelling command, “You can walk, boy! You can walk!”

Right before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus tells his disciples these words, “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world” (John 16:21). The disciples would know sorrow for a time too, but soon they would know the indescribable joy of the resurrection. Which do you think God is more concerned with, our comfort or our growth? Which are you more concerned with? Can you remember a time that you struggled through a crisis, and then experienced the joy of victory when the crisis was resolved? Tell someone about that experience, and maybe they will have a similar story of victory to share with you. Are you going through a difficult time during this Christmas season? In what ways might God be stretching you to become a stronger person? I hope you will seek a closer relationship with God to help you in all of life’s journeys as you celebrate the birthday of the Savior of the world.