“In the world you
will have tribulation” (John 16:33).
We have been
promised this since day one. When Jesus came to earth to bring to pass the ultimate
needed sacrifice for our salvation, He challenged His wanna-be followers that
the road would be hard. It wasn’t
really a matter of if, but rather
when.
It’s easy to trick
ourselves into thinking that our life path should be lined with roses. If you
are a dreamer like me, it becomes easy to believe that the other side is
greener, that once the goal is reached or the dream is lived, everything will
be “just roses.” We writers often glory in the “happy endings” we can bring our
stories to at our own whim and in our own timing. I am not advocating an
attitude of martyrdom; but while God definitely blesses us beyond our sinful
nature deserves, even rose bushes have thorns. Every season of life has its ups
and downs, its glories and disappointments, its roses and its thorns.
Amy Carmichael, one
of my favorite missionaries who has produced beautiful writing collections of
honest and sincere faith before the Lord, challenges us with these words: “The
Lord Jesus made it plain from the beginning that there would be trail of many
kinds for all who would follow Him, and He Himself led the way in that path.
Should we be surprised when we find ourselves following in His footsteps?” No,
we should not be surprised. We should be humbled and moved to worship that He
would call us to follow Him, even though our greatest works are rags and our
best of intentions are tainted by our sinful nature. “He wants us all to
understand quite definitely that if we follow in the way of the cross we must
be prepared to take up the cross,” Carmichael continues. The way is long and difficult. It’s narrow and
can be discouraging. It hurts and attempts to destroy us. Even on sunny days
and through rows of roses we find thorns.
But this is where
joy steps in. This is where being a follower of Christ comes to light.
When hardships and
suffering hit, “you are now in a very good position to prove that gift of joy… [Now]
is the time to prove the things we believe. Your whole life now is a proving of
His power to enable you to do anything. You will never be able to fear again, I
think, after all this.” Amy Carmichael hits it again: hardships only remind us
of our existing frailty and incompetence that we so easily forget about when
all seems to be going our way with little effort. Hardships remind us of our
need of the cross –and serve as reminders to others of the glory and victory
that comes only through Jesus Christ. Hardships turn us to the heart of Christ
and invigorate us with fearless yet graceful strength that will not run dry. This
morning when I read Proverbs 18, verse 10 struck me powerfully: “The name of
the Lord is a strong tower” –SIMPLY HIS NAME declares His power and security.
We must come to “glory
in our infirmities” (II Corinthians 12:9); we must come to the point where we
are grateful for the hardships and challenges; we must welcome the
opportunities to make more of His glory and power known. “Looking back, I know
I would not have chosen any other [path with thorns] if I could have known when
first I began to walk in it what it would mean of His companionship, and also
of the power to enter into the griefs of others. It was all worthwhile, ten
thousand times worthwhile.” It’s true. Trials draw us closer to Him and teach
us things about Him and others that we would never even come close to
comprehending without these difficult moments. They teach us to love more and
be filled with His heart and mind. They show us His ways and open our eyes to
His unseen, broadening our impact for His Kingdom and widening our
opportunities to glorify Him.
In closing, let’s
look at John 16:33 in its entirety: “I have said these things to you, that in
me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart;
I have overcome the world.” We are not alone.
And through Him, we
overcome the world too –even through the roses and thorns.
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