Suffering and a Vision of God

Long ago at a conference, I remember hearing Piper preaching about suffering.  He said emphatically that when people suffer deeply they don't necessarily need a solution or an answer but rather at their deepest core, they need a big view of God.  Sometimes when people suffer, one of the best ways to minister to them is to remind them of the holiness of God, the majesty of God, and the rule and reign of God.  Job 38-41 would be the best biblical example of this idea.

Seeing God relativizes us, sobers us, and reminds us that we are temporal. If I am temporal then my suffering will be temporal as well.  This leads me to remember that one day Jesus will make all things right because he is the victor, he is the King, and he reigns over all.  He will rise up one day and finally defeat all evil of every form.  He knows all and holds all together by the word of his power.

Where else is a solution going to come from?  From within?  Never.  It is only by looking outside ourselves to the God who condescends to us that we will ever find true comfort.  This is why we need a big vision of God when enduring trial.

We are in a very challenging season in our lives right now.  As I write this I am listening over and over to Fernando Ortega's rendition of "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence".  What a great text to accomplish what I describe above.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six wingèd seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!