God with Us

The following is an excerpt on The Privilege of Suffering by Pico Iyer of the New York Times featured in The Straits Times today. Iyer mentioned about the suffering that Kobayashi Issa, an 18th century poet went through "Issa had seen his mother die when he was two, his first son die, his father contract typhoid fever, his next son and a beloved daughter die. ...Issa saw another son die and his own body paralysed. His wife died, giving birth to another child, and that child died, maybe because of a careless nurse. He married again and was separated within weeks. He married a third time and his house was destroyed by a fire. Finally, his third wife bore him a healthy daughter - but Issa himself died, at 64, before he could see the little girl born." 

Like Issa, the Bible tells us that Job also suffered immensely.  Job lost everything.  He lost his children, wealth, property and health.  Even his name was dishonoured.  He fell into utter despair. God in His mercy came through for Job.  He blessed his life bountifully and restored Job completely, far beyond what he originally possessed. 

Coming back to Issa, what Issa went through is unimaginable.  It is amazing how he faced the calamities and tragedy and kept going on. When we look around us, we are no different.  Many of us have gone through tremendous suffering too.  Some of us have lost loved ones, some are battling with crippling diseases and sicknesses.  Others may be experiencing physical pain constantly.  The Lord helps us to make sense of the devastation and difficult circumstances we are in. He helps us to see beyond the temporal pain and agony and gives us hope and perspective in light of the things that are out of our hands.

The only reason why we are able to ride through the suffering and pain in life is because God under girds us with supernatural strength. An ability to cope in our most trying times. Everything may be screaming at us to throw in the towel but God's persevering love does not allow us to give up. He is with us in our pain and suffering. He leads us on to believe Him for yet another miracle. We are blessed because God is with us in the fire. He lifts us up. Yes, love lifted us when we were drowning in the sea of hopelessness and despair. He put eternity in our hearts so that all we can do is to focus on Him and find hope and solace.