The retinal surgeon made three holes in my eye, and cut out most of the inside of the eyeball. This is making me better?!
Any surgery makes a hole in the body where there is not supposed to be a hole. This is supposed to make the patient whole?
Yet, in order to become well, surgery may be necessary. Surgery is an example of making it worse to make it better.
Trials, for the Christian, are another example. We experience trials and suffering, which make life worse, but are promised that those very trials and suffering make us better.
We are promised that trials and suffering:
- Produce endurance, leading to character, and character to hope (Romans 5:3-4)
- Produce steadfastness (James 1:2)
- Result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7)
We are to:
- Rejoice in our sufferings, anticipating the good to follow (Romans 5:3)
- Count trials all joy, knowing the good results we’ll see (James 1:2)
- Rejoice, knowing we’ll experience joy at the coming of Christ (1 Peter 1:6)
In order to rejoice during trials and suffering, to count trials all joy, to agree to surgery, we must take the long view. The benefits of surgery are expected to outweigh the risks.
Children of God are promised unimaginable joy. That long view is a sure thing.
Rejoice.
Also see Joy in the Journey, How to Get Through It, and What’s So Good about Bad?
