What ever happened to the “Gumdrop Holidays”? This weekend, my wife will be speaking at a ladies conference on “The Sovereignty of God through Difficult Times.” Like many of you, my wife Nancy has discovered that, despite the popular children’s song, the Christian life is not always “gumdrop holidays.” She prematurely lost both of her parents (one to cancer and the other to ALS), she lost her sister in a tragic plane crash, and she has been diagnosed with cancer (though thankfully she is in remission). In addition, she goes through the daily struggles that go along with being a mother, a teacher, and the wife of a pastor (which maybe her greatest struggle of all). In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he recounted the afflictions he had endured. Paul was whipped, beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, robbed, starved, and placed into prison. In addition, he was dealing with the many struggles that occurred in the churches he founded. (2 Cor. 11:24-28). Paul wrote, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:7-9). The word that Paul used for “hard-pressed” references the idea that we are constantly pressed by difficulties. Long time pastor and Bible expositor Ray Stedman references these difficulties as the normal afflictions we go through in everyday life. They are the daily struggles we face at work and the normal tensions that occur in human relationships both inside and outside of the family. Paul used the word “perplexed” because, like us, he did not always know if there was a solution to the many difficulties he faced. The Bible tells us that our difficulties can become so great that sometimes we don’t even know how to pray for them. Fortunately the Holy Spirit is praying on our behalf (cf. Rom. 8:26). The word “persecution” is a reminder that all believers will face trials because of their faith. Paul wrote, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). I know of one dear sister who has to lock herself in the bathroom to read her Bible when she goes home so she won’t be mocked. It is the only way she can study the Word in peace. The phrase “struck down” references the idea of being seriously wounded in action. It alludes to a catastrophic event like a fatal accident of a loved one, a heart attack, or a diagnosis of cancer. Ray Stedman writes that “these are terrible experiences that severely try our faith.” But Paul wrote, that we have been given a treasure that God has chosen to store in earthen vessels (i.e., our broken lives) so that others might see the excellence of His power. This treasure is the very Gospel message. It is the good news that not only guarantees the Believer eternal life, but prevents us from being “crushed”, “in despair”, “forsaken”, and “destroyed” in our tribulation. It is this Gospel that introduces us not only to the grace that saves us, but also to the grace that sustains us through the most difficult trials (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9). This sustaining power in our broken lives allows others to be able to see the very work of God. The truth is that the Christian walk is not all “gumdrop holidays.” Nevertheless, God promises us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2. Cor. 12:9). Have a blessed day Pastor Joel
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:06:37 +0000
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