OCTOBER 10.

MORE THAN CONQUERORS.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

ROMANS 8:35, 37.

OUR INTERPRETATION of difficulties determines our response to them. If we believe we deserve that G.o.d give us a smooth, relatively pain-free life, always on the upward path of greater success, we'll be devastated (and shocked) when we experience trouble. Hey, we'll wonder, what's this about? Unrealistic expectations inevitably lead to resentment, and soon, our hearts grow cold toward G.o.d.

In this oddly triumphant pa.s.sage, Paul doesn't shrink from the fact that following Christ in a fallen world sometimes includes genuine suffering. In fact, his list of troubles covers the spectrum from general distress to the point of a sword. Don't be surprised, Paul reminds us, when you encounter problems, and don't forget G.o.d's presence and love, either.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate a believer from the personal attention and deep love of Christ. When we're being beaten up, Christ's compa.s.sion only intensifies. When we are wise enough to realize that difficulties don't mean G.o.d doesn't care, we'll trust Him in the middle of our darkest nights and most threatening days.

When we trust G.o.d in the midst of difficulties, we don't just grit our teeth and hang on until the pain stops. More than ever before, we trust in His wisdom to guide us, His presence to comfort us, and His strength to support us. Instead of barely making it, we become "more than conquerors." Our interpretation of the problem, though, is the key that unlocks our response.

When you experience difficulties, how do you normally interpret the situation? How realistic are your expectations?

What would it look like for you to be more than a conqueror in difficult times in your life?

"There are two things to do about the gospel-believe it and behave it."-SUSANNA WESLEY

OCTOBER 11.

STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS.

I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:10.

MANY YEARS AGO, a man was arrested in the Soviet Union. After a sham trial, he was sentenced to twenty years of hard labor in the Siberian gulag. Seven days a week and fourteen hours a day, he worked in fierce cold in winter and swarms of ravenous insects in summer. Some men died from exhaustion, and most of the survivors became bitter and hardened. This man, though, found Christ, and his days of labor took on new meaning. He learned to thank G.o.d for the meager food ration the prisoners were given, and he learned to experience joy in that desolate place. A few Christian friends there were the light of his life, and he was able to find peace. On the day he was released, the man walked out the gates, turned, and to the astonishment of the guards, kissed the walls of the prison camp. "Here," he explained, "I found G.o.d, and He found me, and I am so thankful."

Suffering is a given for us. We naturally try to construct our lives to avoid it if at all possible, but sooner or later, suffering weasels its way into our experience. At that moment, we either embrace it as a tutor to teach us the deepest, richest lessons of life, or we despise suffering and our hearts grow hard and cold.

Weakness isn't fun and isn't pretty, but admitting our weaknesses to G.o.d is the first step in trusting Him and experiencing His great strength. Paul was so convinced that suffering produces good that he took pleasure in it! But suffering itself didn't produce perception, wisdom, and strength in Paul's life-suffering for Christ's sake, trusting Him to turn it into something good, produced the fruit.

How do you normally respond to suffering?

How would it help to believe G.o.d can turn suffering into something good in your life?

"G.o.d is not looking for brilliant men, is not depending upon eloquent men, is not shut up to the use of talented men in sending His Gospel out in the world. G.o.d is looking for broken men, for men who have judged themselves in the light of the Cross of Christ. When He wants anything done, He takes up men who have come to an end of themselves, and whose trust and confidence is not in themselves but in G.o.d."-H. A. IRONSIDE

OCTOBER 12.

BRINGING COMFORT.

Blessed be the G.o.d and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and G.o.d of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by G.o.d.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4.

n.o.bODY LIKES PAIN. We naturally wonder, Where is G.o.d when it hurts? and Why is this happening? The Scriptures tell us that suffering may occur from a variety of causes, including natural disasters, the consequences of our own sins, and the effects of others' sins against us. Whatever the cause, and whether we ever figure it out, our response can include two things: turning to G.o.d for comfort and then comforting others who are in pain.

G.o.d never promised a pain-free life. Some preachers claim G.o.d will give people unlimited prosperity and health, but those promises prove to be cruel hoaxes to those who believe them. Instead, G.o.d promises that our pain will never be in vain. No matter what we experience and whether we ever learn the reason or not, G.o.d is willing to enter into our pain with us, to give us a sense of His presence, and to provide genuine comfort for us. The process may be short or long, but if we cling to G.o.d, we'll experience His mercy and comfort. Then, and only then, will we be able to comfort others who feel just as much despair, emptiness, and heartache as we felt in the midst of our pain.

When we've experienced true comfort, we realize that pat answers do more harm than good and that simple solutions seldom help at all. A friend "just being there" is often the greatest comfort we can experience, and when people around us are suffering, we use few words as we stay near them.

First, though, we experience G.o.d's kindness, tenderness, patience, and love in our darkest moments. This experience is our greatest resource in comforting others.

Describe a time when you were hurting. What questions did you ask? What brought real comfort?

Who are some people around you today who need to be comforted? What will you do?

"There is nothing you will ever face that you and G.o.d can't handle. The Lord promises us He will give us the grace to bear whatever burden comes our way."-ZIG ZIGLAR

OCTOBER 13.

PATIENCE.

Take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compa.s.sionate and merciful.

JAMES 5:10-11.

WE WANT THE CHARACTER quality of patience, but we don't want to go through the curriculum to learn it! We'd love to have the life of Christ effortlessly poured into us like a transfusion, but spiritual life doesn't work that way. More often, faith is built in the crucible of doubts, hope develops when we face despair, and genuine love blooms in relationships with the most difficult people. In the same way, patience becomes a reality in us because we cling to G.o.d during times when we long for quick, complete solutions to our problems.

Look at the prophets, James tells us, as examples of people in whom G.o.d gradually built the character quality of patience. All the prophets endured tremendous hardships, but none like Job did. He experienced calamity after calamity, followed by misunderstanding and accusations of friends-including his wife's "encouragement" to curse G.o.d and die! (See Job 2:9.) But through long, excruciating times of intense suffering, confusion, and spiritual darkness, Job continued to cling to G.o.d. In the end, G.o.d showed up. Even then, G.o.d didn't explain the whys to him. He simply convinced Job that He was, after all, the G.o.d of the universe, and he could trust Him (see Job 3841).

Could it be that G.o.d has been trying to form the quality of patience in us by putting difficulties, obstacles, and obstinate people in our lives? G.o.d's curriculum for all of us includes several courses on Patience 101, 201, and 301. Will we try to skip school, or will we be good students and learn our lessons?

What are some times in your life when G.o.d tried to teach you patience? What kind of student were you?

What do you need to know about G.o.d in order to respond better in His cla.s.sroom?

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compa.s.sionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these."-GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER

OCTOBER 14.

BROKEN TO BLESS.

Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. . . . Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.

PSALM 51:8, 12-13.

AUTHOR HENRI NOUWEN said that only those who are "wounded healers" have the credibility and compa.s.sion to enter into another person's pain and provide genuine comfort. King David would have agreed. He had blown it big time! He'd committed adultery with Bathsheba and conspired to murder her husband, Uriah. In this beautiful and poignant psalm of repentance, David pours out his heart to the Lord, trusting Him to forgive.

The "bones" represent David's entire life. When his friend Nathan confronted him about his sin, David was shattered (see 2 Samuel 12:1-13). He immediately confessed what he had done, and he began the process of restoration. First, though, he had to come to grips with the horrible nature of his actions. Once, he had danced before G.o.d because he delighted in Him, but now he felt only sadness and guilt. Once, he had stood strong and bold to kill a giant, but now he felt terribly weak and small. Restoration couldn't come from self-effort. G.o.d had to accomplish it by convincing David of His great mercy and grace.

Those who have been restored from wounds or sins have much to offer others who suffer. Broken and mended, stronger than ever, these people have a perspective on pain that goes beyond books. They have looked into the darkness, and G.o.d has met them there. Their experience of restoration has earned them the credibility to speak truth with authenticity to others who have been broken by sin or loss. Wounded healers have the joy and responsibility to impart what they've learned to others, and they keep paying it forward.

How would you define a "wounded healer"?

In what way does a restored sinner or someone who was wounded but now healed have credibility to help others?

"Brokenness is not a revival. It is a vital and indispensable step toward it."-ARTHUR WALLIS

OCTOBER 15.

G.o.d NEVER SLEEPS.

Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

PSALM 121:4.

MANY PEOPLE OUTSIDE the church look at us and criticize us for being "plastic" or "phony." They say we give glib answers to difficult questions, or worse, we don't even ask the questions in the first place! The writers of the Bible, though, were never criticized for this problem because they were so painfully honest. In fact, people who study ancient literature say the Bible is unique because, unlike other ancient texts, its heroes all have clay feet. Time after time in the Bible, we find people who wonder if G.o.d really cares. They express anger, despair, fear, and confusion, and G.o.d is delighted for them to approach Him with raw emotions and exposed hearts. Time after time, G.o.d rewards honesty with fresh insights and renewed confidence in Him.

In this psalm, the writer, who is on his way to Jerusalem, is afraid because he's going through hills full of thieves. "Who's going to help me?" he cries (see Psalm 121:1). "I wonder," he seems to ask, "if G.o.d is aware of the danger I'm in. Is He paying attention, or is He asleep?"

Once again, G.o.d rewards honesty with hope. The process of wrestling with his doubts strengthens the psalmist's faith. Whether it took a long time or it happened quickly, we don't know, but G.o.d let him know that He is fully aware and fully present, even in the most threatening situations.

Each of us goes through times when it seems that G.o.d has taken a nap and forgotten about us. In those moments, our honesty is a door to closer communication with G.o.d, and eventually, more hope, understanding, and confidence in Him.

When have you felt that G.o.d was taking a nap and you were on your own?

Does being honest with G.o.d about your doubts and fears seem right to you? Why or why not?

"The future is as bright as the promises of G.o.d."-WILLIAM CAREY "It's nice to know that you don't have to sit up at night and worry, because G.o.d is going to be up all night, anyhow."-ZIG ZIGLAR

OCTOBER 16.