The Blessings of Trials
by Don Watson
I hopped into my car, put the keys into the ignition, and drove off to run some errands. No sooner had I gotten onto the highway, however, till I noticed a fly in my car. He was happy as a fly could be. There were cookie crumbs in the back seat that Julian had dropped yesterday, a morsel or two of my bear claw I had bought at the new home made donut store down town, and some Sprite residue that had dried in the cup holder. He was set in the food department and he was in Fly Heaven – except for the fact that he was trapped inside my little car. He was going to suffocate and fry from the hundred and twenty degree heat that my car would generate with the windows closed in the parking lot of Wal-Mart. Fact was: He wasn’t in Fly Heaven at all – he was in Fly Hell, but he was oblivious!
Did he know, however, that he was getting ready to experience a “window” of opportunity – a brief period of probation – in which He could repent and return to the big world of fresh air outside the mobile inferno in which he had inadvertently been caught? I would be his savior. I pushed the right rear window button and felt the suck of the wind passing the opening. I imagined the fly feeling the same thing I did but magnified hundreds of times. He was being sucked away from what he perceived was a haven of safety, complete with food, shelter, and security – it was all being taken away. He beat his wings frantically trying to maintain his position inside this virtual cafeteria of delight, but it was to no avail. Little by little he was being sucked from this room of calm into a hurricane of 70 mile an hour winds, and certain death – or so he thought. But in fact, this trial, this calamity befalling him was actually a blessing and even salvation.
If the fly were a human, he would be yelling right now, “Where are You, God? Why did you give me all that food and fabulous accommodations to simply take it all away?” Like the disciples in the boat being battered by a horrific storm, he would be yelling, “Lord, don’t you even care that I am perishing?”
But on the other side of the window, on the other side of the storm – no matter how horrific, there’s peace and safety whether we realize it or not. Many times we don’t even realize the magnitude of what God has delivered us from. We think, while we’re in the midst of this “window storm” God is taking away, but, in fact, he’s giving – saving us from things that are destructive – evil things that would happen if we stay in the car.
Remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace? What do you think they are thinking in mid-air – you know that split second period of time when everything seems to turn into slow motion? “God, I really don’t understand what you are doing right now. I mean, we were faithful and everything – didn’t bow down to the King’s golden image. What good is this fiery furnace going to do? We’ll simply be another 3 notches on the king’s gun belt. But on the other side, they’re promoted, given crazy wealth, and the entire Kingdom of Babylon is exposed to this radical, loving God who actually comes down from the heavens to be with, and deliver 3 of His children from certain death. But they only see that on the other side of the furnace. And the fly will only experience continued life on the other side of the window. Perhaps here, after our trial, we’ll only see some of it, but eventually, on the other side of this earthly window, we’ll see it all – the blessings, the closer relationship, people growing and being saved because of our experience, people seeing God differently, learning to trust Him more next time. One day, we’ll see, it’s all good.
For now, I realize if you’re the fly, it seems really bad when “someone” opens that window and you’re being sucked out into the hurricane, but just be patient, relax and let the wind, the Spirit, take you through that window, that storm, that furnace, or wherever He wants you to go. It’s all good, even though it “sucks” right now.
1 Peter 4:12-13 “ Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory (His Character) when it is revealed to all the world.”
And that’s Grace, Family
Love you all, Pastor Don
It still begs the question of why God is so silent during those times. The three Hebrews had Jesus right there with them. All we get is thunderous silence and a sense of God's absence. Is that really a necessary part of the trials? Would we really be damaged spiritually if God made his presence felt/heard during those times?
Kevin,
Looking back on some of those times when I felt God was being silent I have come to realized that the "silence" really was me yelling at God and demanding certain answers instead of being quiet, listening to what He had to tell me and to see how He was solving my situation.
It's all in the mind, so if one "feels" God presence or not, think positively 😉
Unless you believe God is actually present or absent. Not everything is all in the mind, sometimes it is simply a matter of reality.
Except that our "reality" sometimes is not based on what is real. Our perception of things is that God is silent or absent. The reality is that God is always close if we allow Him to be. Likewise, our perception that He is silent may be that he's waiting for us to follow the last instruction that He gave us, or that we don't need more instruction right them.
Timo,
Your comment is so on the mark! It reminds me of a scene just over a year ago after a "super outbreak" of tornadoes did huge damage in our area and destroyed the home a family in our church (with six children) was renting. The storms struck on Thursday afternoon. They survived by being in the basement, the only one in their neighborhood. God provided for their needs in an amazing variety of ways as they set about recovering what they could from the house and finding another place to live. On Sabbath afternoon she slipped and broke her ankle. Come Sunday morning when I joined the volunteers helping at the house I found her comfortably reclined in an overstuffed chair with her splinted leg elevated on pillows. Damage was everywhere you looked around her. Still, she declared with a big smile on her face, "There are so many silver linings that it's hard to see the cloud!" When I'm tempted to feel sorry for myself because God seems silent or I can't see Him leading, I remember that scene and her statement and thank God that He is with me always.
Timo,
It is doubtful any of us who were under those storms will ever forget that day. Unfortunately, that was the second time in my life I've been under such an outbreak. Meterologists say that happens only every 30-50 years (last time was April 3, 1974) so it isn't likely l'll be around for the three-peat.
I'd love to visit with you when you are in North Alabama and celebrate the ways God has led each of us. The moderator has my permission to give you my personal e-mail so we can set up a time.
It is a coincidence (or perhaps it isn’t) that I was a student at Oakwood (in Northern Alabama) on April 3, 1974, and 37 years later—after having lived elsewhere in the United States—a retired resident of Northern Alabama on April 27, 2011; and here for another similar (once every 30 years or so) tornado outbreak in this part of the country.
I actually took a personal tour of God’s deliverance and protection on both occasions. Destruction was very near me both times.
I could tell you some stories, but you’d have to see it to understand.
"Unless you believe God is actually present or absent."
Precisely. One must BELIEVE to "feel" God. Just as good Mormons must feel the "burning in the bosom." Feeling is believing.
My experience says, NO, believing is NOT the same as believing!
I meant to say believing is not the same as FEELING!
In the story of Shadrach, Meshak and Abednego, we view them through the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar – HE saw "One like the Son of Man" walking around in the furnace. It never really says that THEY saw Jesus with them. Perhaps they never saw Him at all or maybe they did. But what was happening (Them walking around alive in the fire) WAS all the evidence they needed of God's real presence with them – I believe it was enough – but then again, maybe God even let them SEE Jesus as well. But the Silent Time was before being bound, being led to the furnace, and being thrown into it. Perhaps God wants to remind us that He is there because He says so, not because we hear a voice or see a God, but because He SAYS He is there! He says we are accepted! He says we are forgiven! He says we are a new creation – whether we feel it, see it, or experience it. (2 Cor. 5:17) And I believe that sometime in all that silence if we are listening, there is a whisper of hope, assurance, peace – this is the still small voice that came to Elijah and it is the One I know I need to tune my ears and heart towards. I know a lot of times our intellect cannot wrap itself around the God of my circumstances, but I believe that is because He is beyond our understanding. And that's why God things are "spiritually" understood. I think that means if I will open up my spirit, – my mind, my heart, my affections – to God in every aspect of my life, that invites His Spirit to entwine itself with us and make God real to us. Not because that's what God requires, but because God won't force or just take over, so He, in love, waits for our invitation.
Don,
You have painted a great story, but somehow it leaves me puzzled. In fact I think I find it troubling. I note, I think Kevin's point, about why God remains silent so.
While you conclude your story with several pastoral encouragements, the actual illustration leaves more scope to question than it does to demonstrate your conclusions.
You note: "If the fly were a human, he would be yelling right now, “Where are You, God?". Yes, I am sure he would!
And if you were God sitting in that car winding the window you would rightly feel compelled to explain to him what you were doing. Right? I certainly would.
There is something wrong here: We in our "God given compassion" would not cause one wit more suffering for the fly (human) than needed. We would not stretch out his agony by silence.
Why does God? Yes, I know all the explanations we have. (for those who feel compelled, please don't patronize me with them). Surely in spite of these there are bigger questions. We probably cannot bring ourselves to question God's existence, but surely we are at the very least given reason to question our usual assertions about how much he intervenes.
His silence is deafening. Just as yours was to the fly. Yet we can actually turn that around and make acceptance of the silence a test of faith? Surely that is the ultimate unfalsifiable faith!
I guess a question is: how much reality are we going to allow to inform that faith?
Onjukka, what? Yes he did. I swear, I get -so- tired of you Christians not reading your own bloody book. It boggles the mind when somebody like me, an ardent atheist, is forced to quote the damn thing for you people.
Here's EXACTLY where Jesus did, in fact, "cry out to know more" on the cross, where incidentally, Jesus was also asking the question "why?"
I'm going to quote Matthew 27:46. Please feel free to follow along in your Bible at this time.
"About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)."
Got it? Good.
cb25 makes an excellent, well-written point, and it's going to be terribly amusing to watch it rationalized away by the rest of you. His point resonates with me particularly strongly, since I went through hell as a child begging for even the most subtle, fleeting presence of God and was met with only silence, as I have been all my life to this day. Hell, Mother Theresa herself wrote about the silence that cb25 describes. But whatever — back to our regularly scheduled rationalizing and fallacious thinking.
Tim, why would you expect a real God to bow to the demands of any child or adult including you to jump though your hoop? I am admitting to praying for the same thing, some physical manifestation, some evidence. But I do realize now it was an infantile and unworthy request, and could have done great harm to my tendency to megalomania if it had been granted.
What if God is too wise to answer our demands? What if the evidence for his reality in science (design is real not easily explained away as "apparent"), in history (all nations everywhere testify of him), and in providence (he has provided all we need for carbon based life to flourish on earth), is so sufficient, that giving you a miracle on demand, might be very harmful to your character. Who knows, if God had spoken the way you wished, you might now be a fundamentalist yourself, God forbid!
Has Job also been forgotten? Did he not rail and question God?
Tim, you're right: The sentimental view of God that believers picture is not how He is presented in the Bible. As you mentioned, have they not read the OT where God acted without explanation, even in essence, to refuse to recognize questions: "Who are you to question the God of the universe"?
This is what is so disengenuous about Christianity: the total avoidance of the evidence in their Holy Book of anything that would destroy their picture of God as loving, kind, and "who wouldn't hurt a fly."
Thanks for directing my attention to this column and to its subsequent commentary, Chris.
I don’t have much to add to what Don Watson and William Noel have said perhaps other than reemphasize Hebrews 11:6.
As has been said God has chosen to give us the option of fellowship.
The ball is always in our court. He is nevertheless invested in our salvation.
He wants fellowship with us but will only knock at the proverbial heart’s door. I’d say His “silence” in our trials is actually Him knocking harder and louder.
Revelation 3:20 is a promise; as is Jeremiah 29:13. Life’s an open book test.
You miss the question: why is it that when he is most needed, God feels most absent? When you are going through that, having Bible verses quoted at you that do not match your experience does not help. More often than not, it just makes you feel that your experience – if not you yourself – is being dismissed as irrelevant.
Stephen Foster,
So, if God's silence in our trials is Him knocking harder and louder, and we cry out to him from within that silence: Does that not constitute an answer to the knocking?!
If it does, why does the silence remain?
If our crying out into the silence does not constitute us answering the door – what in God's name does?
Perhaps we have it all wrong: Maybe we should not present God as the ever ready interventionist we do. Rather, we should present a God who works through the laws of nature. In this sense we would not say there is "silence" because we would not expect a voice. We would say we are to tune into who and what we, others and all nature have been made to be. You are part of nature. I am part of nature: your voice and mine; your comforting arm and mine – can all lift the silence for someone else – be the arm around them when silence is better.
False expectations are bitter; being part of nature where the hug of a tree, the voice of a friend, the wag of a tail, the warmth of the sun – God given gifts – will never leave you in the agony of silence.
We all understand this in theory, but don't appreciate it in real time: God is omniscient and omnipotent. He knows what would happen under any and all possible sets of circumstances and can permit or forbid whatever He chooses, whenever He chooses. However He does all this within the framework of free will for His intelligent, self-aware creatures and that of planet in rebellion and a war for our souls with a criminally insane (formerly) angelic host.
He also works within the context of His nature; which is unconditional self-sacrificing love.
I cannot improve upon what Don Watson wrote; but can relate to the fly. The difference is that, in theory, I know—or should know—He sees the bigger picture, and I should trust Him.
You are right, sometimes He uses us as vehicles to deliver His love, mercy, protection, and understanding to others; and that sometimes He uses others to do the same for us.
The thing is He is smarter than us; and better too.
The parental metaphor is appropriate in almost every conceivable way. He loves us more than we love ourselves and He knows/wants what is ultimately in our best interest.
Seeking fellowship with the sovereign Creator of the universe requires something on our part. The ball is always in our court.
The question is: what does seeking entail?
All this "God talk" is really only a modernized version of all ancient religions who prayed to their gods for rain, good crops, winning in battles. Yet they had as much proof of their god as Christians have of theirs: NONE. It is all in one's mind and if it gives comfort to pray although often unanswered, or no response, how is it of any more benefit than one who simply appreciates and accepts life and has no "unseen being" to claim or blame?
If only by believing in a god can people be kind and loving, how is it possible that there are millions without a belief who exhibit all those excellent qualities? Or that they live in non-Christian nations (as the U.S. is often referred to) and yet care for their own citizens much more willingly and seldom choose to go to war? Religious nations have often been the most eager to choose arms for most any reason: Israelites from Bible history accounts; Christians, beginning with the Crusades; Muslims at a later date: all based on each nation's religion.
Agnostics live and let live; believers are not content unless they are constantly proselytizing
Elaine, Elaine you have lived so long, and you have no proof? I am so sorry.
I understand no proof of the kind of God you were taught.
But I really don't understand how an intelligent woman like you can not be overwhelmed by the Other who is not us?
And would you really in any battle you can imagine, would you rather be attacked by an army of Darwinians trying to clean up the gene pool, or an army of Protestants trying to show you that you should be baptized by immersion? I'd opt for the religious nuts every time. I have at least a slight chance of begging for mercy! 🙂
Jack,
Why are you so frustrated because there are many people like me who cannot accept the various ideas of God that have been promulgated throughout the ages? Did you pick one? Which idea of God did you choose to believe? What proof is there of God other than a creation of the mind?
What is so worrying about "Darwinians"? Personally, I feel safer in the company of free thinkers who live and let live without trying to persuade to their particular beliefs.
Why not adopt the Roman Catholic view of God? Or the Mormons? Or the Muslims?
As for "religious nuts" I can hardly think of a better description than the Catholic hierarchy which is trying to silence the nuns for their work and advocacy for the poor which the hierarchy believe they should be speaking out against women's reproductive rights. They have no moral voice at all after all the history of priestly pedophilia.
So tell me, how did you choose the God you believe in? What proof do you have that there is a god? I'm not denying or accepting, but am wondering why all those who are so concerned because everyone doesn't believe in an unseen entity, which is all 100% subjective.
You would not have felt so secure during the Inquisition conducted by the "religious nuts." What mercy did they show? I've seen the torture instruments in a museum in Rothenberg, and they are frightening. When the church defines and executes "heretics" there is no history of heretical executions from free thinkers.