After many years of serving Christ and taking the Gospel to those who had not yet heard the good news of Christ, Paul recounts some of his sufferings, persecutions and trials in 2 Corinthians 11. He had been flogged, beaten and imprisoned numerous times. He had been ship-wrecked three times and once had spent a day-and-a-half in the open sea. He’d been in danger from bandits, from his own countrymen and from the Gentiles. He had often worked hard to support himself and others, often gone without sleep, food, shelter and even clothes. Besides all this he often felt overwhelmed by his concern for the welfare of the churches he and his co-workers had established. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

Paul goes on to explain that all these sufferings had a dual effect in his life: first, they revealed his own weakness. But in realizing his weaknesses, the second effect came to light: namely, that Christ is all-sufficient in his life. He heard this word from the Lord, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Later, writing from prison, Paul explains his attitude toward his sufferings to the Philippian Christians, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20)

Anyone can become overwhelmed and mired down in self-pity over their trials and suffering. To respond so is human. But when, in our suffering, we revel in and demonstrate the all-sufficiency of Christ, He is glorified and suddenly our suffering has a greater purpose and meaning.

Paul explained, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” Let Christ be glorified in you and through your suffering. Trust in His all-sufficiency!

©2011 Rob Fischer

In Hebrews, the writer reminds his readers of the severe persecution and trials they experienced after coming to Christ. He urges, “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.” (Hebrews 10:32-34 NIV)

In the context of hardship we realize how temporal and unimportant our stuff, schedules and agendas are. Suffering clears our minds of the junk to recognize what’s truly important. The apostle Paul wrote, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18 NIV)

Recently, our church held the memorial service for a young lady, who from age 2½ to 15 suffered chronic, excruciating pain. Yet in her suffering she praised God and lived with love and grace like few adults ever attain. This young woman knew how to live because she focused not on temporary circumstances, but on what will last forever and she is enjoying the eternal right now.

©2011 Rob Fischer

I can’t think of a better example from the Bible of this benefit and principle of hardship and suffering than the account of Joseph in Genesis. Although Joseph’s brothers meant to harm him by selling him as a slave, God turned it into something profoundly good. But for 13 years Joseph suffered severe hardship as a slave and then an inmate in an ancient Egyptian prison. His hardships also included the pain and agony of being separated from his family and the cruel rejection he had experienced at the hands of his brothers.

If all that suffering weren’t enough, he was then falsely accused of attempted rape by his master’s wife. And this occurred because Joseph was upright and dared not sin against God or his master. Yet through all his suffering, both as a slave and a prisoner, the Scripture is careful to observe that “the Lord was with him.” We must not make the mistake of taking that phrase solely in terms of comfort in the midst of severe trial, although it certainly was that too.

But reflecting on the end of the story and how God elevated this Jewish slave and prisoner to the second-in-command over all Egypt, we recognize “the Lord was also with Joseph” in terms of His sovereign leading and plan. Psalm 105:19 (NLT) reveals, “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.”  God was using all of Joseph’s suffering and trials as a means of shaping Joseph’s character to prepare him for a huge work in the life of his nation.

Joseph recognized the sovereign and loving hand of God in all that had happened to him. He embraced God’s work in his life to the extent that he completely forgave his brothers telling them, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” (Genesis 45:5)

Hebrews 12:7, 10-11 urges us, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

©2011 Rob Fischer

In the same way, God uses “heat” and “pressure” in our lives to bring sinful patterns to the surface. For instance, it’s easy to love others when they too are loving and caring toward us. But when the heat is cranked up and someone treats us with anger and malice we are tempted to throw back at them what they threw at us. Christ wants to change that in us, but without the heat and pressure of the moment, our sin won’t be revealed.

I mentioned earlier that hardship and suffering also help root sin out of our lives. We find a remarkable principle in the Scriptures that speaks to this issue. In 1 Peter 4:1-2, Peter urges us, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”

How did Christ respond to suffering? Peter describes this earlier in his letter, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to God.” (1 Peter 2:23) Jesus humbly and patiently submitted to suffering while trusting that God is faithful and loving and knows exactly what He’s doing. Jesus’ focus was to please God and do His will even if it meant suffering for it.

Likewise, when we suffer and we focus on pleasing God and doing His will, there’s no place for sin (rebellion against God, or going our own way). This is what Peter means when he tells us to “arm ourselves with Christ’s attitude toward suffering,” and that by so doing “we’ll be done with sin.” Suffering reminds us and drives us to trust in God and focus on what He desires.

In the ‘90s Linda and I spent nearly six years in Texas. This began as a very dry time for us spiritually. We didn’t seem to fit into the culture of the Dallas—Ft. Worth, we had difficulty finding a good church and consequently had few friends. The first two years, it seems, we spent grumbling and complaining!

But in the hardships we experienced there God exposed our sin of grumbling, complaining and living a defeated life. We confessed our sin and began looking for ways to enjoy Texas and its people and we did. Getting the most out of hardship is a choice we must make!

©2011 Rob Fischer

We’re told that in one day through a series of horrible catastrophes, Job lost all of us flocks, herds, servants and even his children! His loss and grief must have been beyond comprehension! Yet, look at Job’s response in Job 1:20-21, “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

In spite of Satan’s cruelty and Job’s enormous loss, Job turned to God instead of away from Him. In response to his pain and grief of suffering Job worshiped God.

The writer of Hebrews urges us, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…” (Hebrews 13:15) In times of suffering and hardship, praise and worship truly feels like a sacrifice because we have spent our reserves. There’s nothing left but to release oneself to God in worship.

This is not some morbid, masochistic appreciation for suffering, but the realization that regardless of our circumstances, God never changes. He is always worthy of our praise and worship. His great love is not measured by our circumstances, but by His character.

After the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11/2001, my wife and I met with the college and career group we were leading at the time. We came together than night grieving for our nation, for the families of those who had lost loved ones and we wept over the horrors of evil. As we met, we were driven to pray fervently and then we worshiped God. Our worship of Him welled up inside us to the point of bursting and then flooded out from us. We found peace and comfort in the act of worshiping Him, because the worship of God was the most appropriate response. Worshiping God is always appropriate.

Hardship strips away everything else that vies for our attention and leaves us with God alone. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” – John Piper

©2011 Rob Fischer

When I was a sophomore in high school, 23 of us young men embarked on a 1300-mile bicycle trip around Lake Superior. We had transported our bicycles from Minneapolis, MN to Superior, WI and launched our trip from there. We rode counter-clockwise around the lake through Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and into Ontario, Canada. After the first three days of sore muscles and butt fatigue we were all feeling pretty confident and energized by the challenges of the trip.

Then, halfway around the lake, we awoke one morning in White River, Ontario, Canada. My tent was blown up like a balloon! We were experiencing gale-force winds, driving rain and 35 degrees Fahrenheit! None of us was prepared for this kind of weather. In addition to these harsh weather conditions, the terrain had become so hilly that the locals had names for the hills!

By early afternoon I was so hypothermic and my spirits so dampened that I wanted nothing better than to call my dad to come get me. Larry, our adult leader must have recognized my despondency, because he came over to me and spoke with me. Basically, he said, “Rob, you’re at the end of your reserves aren’t you? We all are. But you know what? Being at the end of ourselves is a great place to be because it drives us to dependence on God. Through the hardships of this adventure, God is giving you an opportunity to trust Him in ways you’ve never trusted Him before. I urge you to grasp this challenge and trust God for the strength to get you through this.” 

Larry then quoted Isaiah 40:28-31, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I took off on my bicycle, renewed with Larry’s encouragement from God’s Word. All afternoon, as I labored up every long, steep hill against wind and driving rain, I found strength in the Lord as I meditated on that Isaiah passage. Since then, I’ve experienced much more difficult trials that what I overcame that day and God has always proved faithful! He says to us, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Always let suffering and hardship drive you to God, not away from Him! Take advantage of your hardship, trials and suffering. See in them a unique opportunity to trust God!

 
©2010 Rob Fischer

A short time ago, I prayed with an individual in the hospital who had been there nearly three weeks. I challenged that person not to miss the good things God might have for them in the midst of their suffering. Predictably, this individual blurted out, “I just want to get out of here!” That response is okay. It’s normal. But there’s more to any such tough situation that we won’t want to miss!

Deep in Psalm 119 David reveals something very profound on the subject of hardship. Let me paraphrase what he prays, “Lord, You are good and all You do is good. And I needed to go through hardship, in order to grasp how good You are!” (Psalm 119:68 & 71 paraphrase)

During times of hardship we experience the depths of God’s love, power, goodness and faithfulness in ways we could not know without the hardship. When everything is going well—we have a beautiful family, nice home, great job, etc.—it’s easy to pray, “Lord, Your grace is sufficient.” But when the doctors have just informed us that they no longer detect a heartbeat in our unborn child the sufficiency of God’s grace takes on much more significance.

Through that experience my wife and discovered that God’s grace really is sufficient for us through anything life might throw at us. I love the way Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 1:5, “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” In other words, Christ’s compassion for us more than matches any amount of hardship we may experience. But we would not experience or understand Christ’s abundant compassion apart from the hardship!

What hardships are you experiencing right now: financial, health, work, relationships? Ask God to reveal to you more of His of awesome character to you through what you’re enduring. “Lord, You are good and all You do is good. And I needed to go through hardship, in order to grasp how good You are!” (Psalm 119:68 & 71)

©2010 Rob Fischer

We all have many things we hang on to from the past: hurts, regrets, broken relationships, failures, patterns of sin, poor choices, etc. Sometimes we even hang on to good memories or the way things were, but in an unhealthy manner always longing for what once was. But when we turn to God and put our trust in him and follow him, he invites us to “forget the former things” and to “not dwell on the past.”

If you are troubled by your past or dissatisfied with where your past has led you, let Christ do a new thing in your life today. Trust him, follow him and obey him. Let Christ lead you into this new thing, this new way he has for you. If you’ve failed in the past, don’t think you know what’s best for your future. Trust Christ. Follow his lead.

If you’re dwelling on a great memory or time of life from your past, but it’s preventing you from stepping into the new thing that Christ wants to do in your life, then turn around and look to Jesus. Thank him for that past joyful memory, but look to him for many more.

And as you trust Christ with your day-to-day life, your relationships, your choices; your habits and your outcomes, believe that he has your best in mind. Anticipate and expect him to work on your behalf. He says he’s doing a new thing in your life, now expect it and watch for where he’s working. And when you see him begin to “make ways in the desert and streams in the wasteland” of your life, thank him and worship him. Find your satisfaction and joy in him and you’ll not be disappointed!

© 2010 Rob Fischer

Yet, as I read through Genesis again I’m utterly amazed at God’s career plan for Joseph. Through Joseph’s dreams it appears that God had given him an inkling of what the future might hold for him. His brothers and even his father interpreted this as arrogance. In fact, his brothers were so incensed by Joseph’s dreams and preferential treatment by his dad that they hated him (Genesis 37:4).

So at about the young age of 17, Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him, then thought better of it and sold him as a slave to Midianite merchants who in turn sold him to one of Pharaoh’s officials in Egypt. Meanwhile, Joseph’s brothers cunningly convinced their father that Joseph was dead, having been torn apart by some wild beast.

As bleak and hopeless as Joseph’s situation appears, the Scriptures inform us, “The Lord was with him and gave him success in all he did” (Genesis 39:2-5). It’s so easy to read that and just plow on in the text oblivious to what was happening behind all of this, so let’s ponder this for a moment. From the time Joseph was sold as a slave into Egypt until the time when he was promoted to second in command over all of Egypt was about thirteen years. He spent some of those thirteen years as a slave in Potiphar’s household and the remaining years in prison.

In planning my own career path, neither slavery nor a prison sentence ever entered my mind as a possible stepping stone toward promotion! Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, Joseph was falsely accused of trying to seduce his master’s wife. Precisely where Joseph has determined to keep his integrity intact, his reputation was soiled by this false accusation and circumstantial evidence. (Potiphar’s wife had grabbed his cloak as “proof” that he had tried to rape her.)

In several places in Scripture we gain insight into Joseph’s trials. He himself refers to “all his trouble” and his “suffering” in Egypt. And the Psalmist explains of Joseph, “They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons” (Psalm 105:18). Add to his physical suffering, the loneliness and oppression of slavery, a tarnished reputation and the hardships and humility of prison.

Surely through all those years Joseph must have wrestled with God frequently! Joseph was a man like we are. Would he not have cried out to God, “Why? Why me? Why this? Where are you, God? Why don’t you answer my prayers for deliverance? Why do my brothers hate me so? Don’t you care about me? Have I done something terrible to warrant this treatment? If so, reveal it to me so I can repent!” Do you feel the turmoil and desperation he must have experienced?

And yet, the Scripture says, “The Lord was with him . . .  and gave him success in all he did” (Genesis 39:2-5). The implication here is that Joseph worked diligently and God prospered him in his work. In other words, Joseph rose above his circumstances and kept his integrity intact by working hard and doing well for his bosses. In his diligence God blessed him. However, Joseph’s diligence was coupled with his dependence on God. Notice that in his conversations with the cupbearer and baker and later with Pharaoh, Joseph credits God with the interpretation of dreams.

Again, we find something amazing going on here in the background. In the middle of all his struggling and suffering Joseph’s relationship with God had deepened profoundly. With the interpretation of these dreams it’s clear that Joseph had learned how to listen to God. Joseph was alert to the working of God and he also knew God’s character. Remember his words to Potiphar’s wife when she was trying to seduce him? “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)

Joseph clearly saw his dependence on God and lived dependently on him trusting him for all things. Joseph had lost his standing as a favored son of a wealthy rancher. Then he lost his position as a trusted slave. His reputation was slandered and his freedom taken. But Joseph continually cultivated his relationship with God.

Later on as second in command over all Egypt, Joseph possessed all the power and authority to bring justice upon his scheming brothers. But Joseph freely forgave them. His words of encouragement to them are incredible! Joseph consoled them, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” (Genesis 45:4-5) Joseph’s relationship with God had worked in him a forgiving, loving response to those who had hurt him.

And later, when their father had died, Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” (Genesis 50:19-20)

Joseph’s words also demonstrate that he found great joy and purpose in knowing that God was using him and that his life was impacting others for good. Too often I find myself more concerned with how fulfilling my job is for me. What I see in Joseph was a godly diligence and fervor for his job and then asking a chief question, “How is my work benefiting others?”

Finally, I find three prominent characteristics that stand out in Joseph’s story: 1) God’s presence, faithfulness and sovereign ability to turn awful circumstances into something wonderful; 2) Joseph’s trust in God and ability to see God’s care for him in spite of horrible trials; and 3) Joseph’s preoccupation with spending his life in the service of others.

©2010 Rob Fischer

Was Jesus ever taken advantage of?

This may seem like an odd question, but it’s one I’m wrestling with in a very personal and practical way. You see, I just learned that I’ve been taken advantage of by someone. This person had been posing as someone with a chronic illness and in dire financial need. I and others rose to their alleged need by paying some of their bills, serving them and praying for them. This has gone on for a couple years. Now that their deceit has been exposed I feel violated, foolish and a tremendous sense of grief for them.

What should I have done differently? Did anything like this ever happen to Jesus? If so, how did he respond? How does he want me to respond? How do I guard myself in the future—or, should I?

These questions take me to Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:27-31: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Jesus’ words really get under our skin because they demand living in a way that is far too vulnerable for comfort! If we live like that aren’t we opening the door for being taken advantage of? And yet he calls us to this lifestyle precisely because it demonstrates God’s character.

We can consider the question, “Was Jesus ever taken advantage of?” in two ways. First, because Jesus is God and therefore all-knowing and all-wise, we conclude that Jesus was never taken advantage of in the sense that he was fooled or that someone tricked him. John 2:24 bears this out when it explains, “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.” Jesus was fully aware of the motivations of their hearts.

There’s a second way we can think about the question whether Jesus was ever taken advantage of. This viewpoint does not result from foolishness, naivety or lack of knowledge, but due to his virtuous character.

For example, in John 5, Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. One Sabbath day, Jesus told this man to get up, pick up the mat he was lying on and walk. The Jewish religious leaders reprimanded the man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath. In response the healed man replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ So they asked him, ‘Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?’ The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.”

Later on, Jesus found this guy in the temple and warned him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” At this, the man went back to the Jews and informed them that it was Jesus who had made him well. And as a result, the Jews persecuted Jesus for doing these things on the Sabbath. (John 5:1-16)

How could this guy turn against Jesus like this right after Jesus healed him? And, why did Jesus allow himself to be taken advantage of like this? Then something occurred to me. Every time one of us, who has experienced Jesus’ forgiveness for sin, rebels against him and willfully sins again—are we not taking advantage of our Lord’s grace and goodness? We are taking advantage of him, to be sure. And yet he humbly endures it when we defraud him and he remains gracious and ready to forgive when we return to him! 1 John 1:9 explains, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus asks us to endure the same treatment from others. In 1 Corinthians 6:7 he says, “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” Enduring this mistreatment from others allows us the opportunity to “participate in the sufferings of Christ.” (1 Peter 4:12-13.)

If we are living and becoming more like Jesus, it should not surprise us when we are taken advantage of like he is. May we also learn to bear it humbly like he does!

©2010 Rob Fischer