Is trusting in God foolish?

Do you ever feel like the world mocks you for having faith in Jesus, despite the depths of your struggles and sufferings? Do they think you to be a fool to put your trust in God?

In Isaiah chapter 36-38, Israel is in war against Sennacherib, king of Assyria. The Assyrian king mocks God. He calls Israel foolish to depend on their God to save them from destruction. King Hezekiah of Israel, prays for God to deliver them and He does! Just when things look great, God tells Hezekiah he's about to die. Once again, he prays and is given an additional fifteen years of life.

There's a couple of things that have been really helpful for me to learn through this passage this week:
1. No matter how difficult the situation is, the first step is to go to God.
2. It is right to grieve when the world says hurtful things about you or about God.

3. Prayer changes things. Prayer resulted in God saving Israel and also in God saving Hezekiah's life.
4. God is in control of everything, even suffering. Even when medicines are the means of healing, this does not take away from God's sovereignty in using the medicine to heal us.

5. Our God will deliver us. It may not be immediate like Israel saw when Hezekiah prayed, but his deliverance is assured to us through Jesus. He does this for His own sake and for the sake of His faithful people, that is us!

What a great God we have! Only a fool wouldn't put his/her trust in Him.

Suffering well: worth its weight in gold!

Is it possible for us to praise God while we are suffering? Absolutely!! 

Since I began to be ill, I've been on the hunt for any good resources to help as I thought about & lived through my chronic pain struggles. I haven't found any as good as this one! 

John Piper & all the other contributors bring a fresh understanding to the purpose and presence of suffering, both from a theological, Biblical perspective as well as a practical, well-suffered perspective. I found this to be a good mix of head & heart. Definitely well worth a read if you are suffering yourself. There is no necessity to read this book chronologically so if you are currently struggling with cognitive difficulties, I'd recommend you start with chapters 7 through to 9. These are personal accounts from people who've suffered a fair bit in their lives. As I read it, I found myself constantly saying, "Yes, yes, that's me. That's exactly what I've been thinking or feeling." 

Even if you aren't suffering at this current moment, this book is well worth a read in preparation for the suffering that is inevitable for all humans this side of heaven & also as a useful glimpse into what those who are suffering around you might be feeling / thinking. 

Praise God that even as we suffer, we do not suffer alone & that we can benefit from the wisdom, prayers and struggles of those who have suffered before us & that we, ourselves, can then share this comfort we have received with those who will suffer after us. 

For a free copy or a chance to glance through some of the book, refer to the Desiring God website. 

Find Comfort in God

I found this beautiful hymn that is written as a source of comfort to those who suffer. The author is unknown. But it is clear from the words that he/she has suffered greatly but that God is their source & foundation! May He be yours too..

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
to you for refuge to Jesus have fled.

"Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed;
for am I your God and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."

"When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress."

"When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine."

"E'en down to old age all my people shall prove
my sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
and when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn
like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne."

"The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

Source: "Suffering & the Sovereignty of God" 

If you'd like to know how to sing this hymn, click here to listen via YouTube (note: this version skips verse 5).