Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our great God. Below is the next installment in the series about praying in suffering.
Category Three - Learning About God
“I have heard
of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee” (Job 42:5). We
know that Job was a very godly man. He was incredibly devoted to God. His
devotion was demonstrated by his actions prior to his trials. Job’s faith was
based in knowledge, and his knowledge about God is revealed through statements
he made during his trials. Job was certainly not ignorant of God or His ways.
However, when the book of Job reaches its conclusion, Job makes the statement recorded above. He claims that his previous knowledge of God was so shallow that it was as if he had not truly seen God before. Now his knowledge had deepened and intensified. His “superficial” exposure to God had become profound. What previously seemed like second-hand knowledge was now first-hand experience. Practically speaking, Job had taken tremendous strides in his walk with God and in his knowledge of Him.
It was not mere coincidence or a resultant ramification that Job learned more about God through his suffering. It seems that this was one of God's designs. There were other things happening, but when it came to Job specifically, God's interaction was targeted on teaching Job about Himself. When God finally responded directly to Job, He spent four chapters (38-41) pouring out detail after detail, accomplishment after accomplishment, and ability after ability. These four chapters reveal God's wisdom, God's power, God's sovereignty, God's provision, God's control, God's righteousness, and the masterpieces of God's creative work.
It is hard to find a better biblical example of how to respond to trials than that of Job. If God wanted Job to learn more about Him, and if one of the major conclusions of Job is that he did learn more about God, then this ought also to be a major factor within our own suffering. It stands to reason that God also uses our suffering to teach us about Himself. When we come out of the trial, we ought to know God better than we did at the beginning. This then is something that we can confidently pray for.
We certainly can mimic Job's own words, praying something like, “Father, open my eyes to see You as I have never seen You before. May what I have learned in the past be the foundation for much deeper practical and personal knowledge.” We need not, however, limit our prayers to a general request for knowledge. It would also be appropriate to pray to know God better in specific characteristics. There are certain aspects of God that are probably of particular benefit within a trial, as well as being the characteristics that are most readily learned through a trial.
We can pray to increase in our knowledge of God's wisdom. This knowledge can help us to trust in God, in His plan, in His care for us, and in the outcome and consequences of our trial. If we believe God is wise, we can rest in what He chooses to do. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33). “Father, help me to know more of Your wisdom so I can trust You more deeply.”
We can pray to increase in our knowledge of God's sovereign control. If we know that absolutely nothing can happen outside the plan of God and that He is intricately involved in every aspect of our lives, we can be at peace within our suffering. Many scriptures make it clear that nothing, whether humanly perceived as good or humanly perceived as evil, can happen outside of the superintending hand of God. “Shall there be evil [calamity] in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” (Amos 3:6). “Father, help me to know more of Your sovereignty so I can rest in my circumstances.”
We can pray to increase in our knowledge of God's power. If we doubt God's ability to control our suffering or to provide an exit from it, we could easily tend toward despair. The truth is that there is no situation too hard for God to handle. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). God may not do exactly what we want, but there is no doubt as to His ability. “Father, help me to know more of Your power so that I will not doubt that the outcome is what You have designed.”
We can pray to increase in our knowledge of God's provision. Psalm 104 talks about God's care for all of creation and tells how He provides for every creature. If God cares even for the tiny sparrows, then He surely cares much more for His children (Matthew 10:31). There is no need we have that God cannot meet. In the midst of suffering, our needs may be great, but God's provision is sufficient. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). “Father, help me to know more of Your ability to provide, so that I will find in You all that I need.”
We can pray to increase in our knowledge of God's love. One of the dangers of trials is that we are tempted to forget or even deny the love and the goodness of God. These characteristics of God cannot change. He is always good and always loving. Our struggles in this area are probably the biggest danger in relation to the possibility of walking away from God in our trial, so we must deeply know His love. In describing tribulations, Paul reminds the believers that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5). A few chapters later, Paul gives the beautiful passage about the love of God and the fact that nothing can separate us from it. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). “Father, help me to know more of Your love so that I am never tempted to leave Your arms.”
We can pray to increase in our knowledge of God’s comfort. We crave comfort when times are hard, and people are not always perceptive or comfortable to give it. Without comfort, our days can be difficult, and our spirits can deflate. God is the God of all comfort. Not only does He give comfort, but He increases that comfort as things become more difficult. “Blessed be … the God of all comfort; which comforteth us in all our tribulation. … Our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (II Corinthians 1:3-5). “Father, help me to know more of Your comfort so that I can survive through these difficult days.”
We can pray to increase in our knowledge of God’s grace. God’s grace is His provision to enable us to do what we need to do. That grace can take many forms, but practically speaking, it is the component that makes all the difference between collapsing and continuing. The good news is that God has enough grace to enable us in every situation. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness’” (II Corinthians 12:9). “Father, help me to know more of Your grace so that I can keep doing the next thing and keep living the next day.”
The increased knowledge of God sometimes comes in watershed moments when God does something amazing or opens our understanding in a special way. Sometimes it comes gradually, and we realize as we look back how God has repeatedly revealed Himself through our experience. Sometimes it comes as we take the time to reflect and actively recall demonstrations of His character. As God walks with us through our suffering, it is nearly inevitable that we will grow in our knowledge of Him, but praying for that increased knowledge will facilitate our recognition.
May You see God’s greatness all around you. God bless.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
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