My dad has been in the hospital for 28 days, now. It stated as a gastero-intestinal infection (that was bad enough in and of its self) and progressed into a couple of bouts with pneumonia. To complicate matters, his Parkinson's was evidently advancing much more rapidly than anyone suspected. Almost immediately after losing his exposure to the Parkinsonian medications, his symptoms progressed to stage five, complete inability to function, move, think, talk, swallow... he has remained in a virtually catatonic state. Top all that off with a Parkinson's complication called Central Pain, which is extremely painful, and musculoskeletal pain, and gastero-intestinal pain, all Parkinson's related, a heavy dose of pain relievers such as Morphine have been daily regimens.... Wow. How could I not be thinking about suffering and how it relates t the human condition, God's sovereignty, sin and our appropriate response.
I really don't intend a 20 page paper here, quite frankly, I have enough of those in another venue. However, I thought I'd share some of the insights the Lord has allowed me through the course of prayer and meditation. I have noticed that most people, when they pray for a suffering individual, pray for healing or relief. It seems natural, maybe even scriptural. After all God promises to "heal all our diseases," right? That "promise" is found in Psalm 103:3. In context, one could argue that David is saying that God healed all David's disease, not ours. Isn't there plenty of disease and suffering out there in the world, even among believers? It could also be that God DOES heal all our disease, EXCEPT the last one, the consequence of sin which is natural death. It is really the second case that I have thought about most in the last month.
I've thought about it mainly because it relates to the idea that within the process of living in this world, under the curse of sin, God seems to move in and through human suffering. I think it is somewhat axiomatic that one either turns to God, or away from God in times of suffering. (Did you like that big academic word?) But, why is it that God appoints some to suffer in this life and others, well not so much? Wouldn't it be easier to categorize suffering as deserved (justice or punishment), or testing, or pruning, or growth, or believer this and unbeliever that? Yeah, that would be easier. However, we all know it is not the case.
So, how is it that we Christians (and non-Christians) tend toward the only answer to suffering be healing and restoration, or put simply, non-suffering? Please, God heal all our disease! Well, I'm not about to propose a thesis on the mind of God. I do think that the basic axiom that suffering forces a turn to or from God is the point. If our chief end is to glorify the Creator and Redeemer of our souls we will ultimately do just that, either in His grace (love) or His justice (wrath). When we turn to God in our weakness we recognize His authority and open ourselves to the potential of His love and mercy that by grace He may choose to bestow upon us. In this way, He chooses to allow us the opportunity, sometimes through our suffering. IF you really want to ponder this idea, refer to James chapter 1 and reflect on how a trial, or a fiery trial could be counted joy... or 1 Peter 1...
I find myself praying now in light of recognizing God's mercy and grace, seeking to reveal the weight of His significance in my situations and in the lives of those around me. I pray that He will be glorified, not just in the life of the person directly experiencing the physical impact of the suffering, but also those surrounding the person, family, friends who suffer emotionally, seeking answers or solis.
Last Sunday as I was meditating and praying on this as it relates to my Dad and Mom, I felt like the Lord pushed a thought into my conscious that He alone has a will for each life and that He alone appoints suffering or healing, life or death. It is appointed, not random, not without cause or compassion. I don't particularly enjoy seeing my Dad suffer. The prognosis is not good. Mom has been thrust into a world she neither understands, or is ready for. But, I joy in that we are all focused upon and much more reliant in the providence of our Lord and the mercies and grace He has already allowed us to experience. I pray for mercy. I pray for grace. I pray that we rely on and glorify the one and only God and reflect the love of His only Son.
There is much more. I don't know if it will come out in this forum. That will remain a mystery of the future. That is quite enough for now.
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