Frank DeLalla

I was moved a few weeks ago to write the following status update on my Facebook page:

I won't get into what made me think that, but the idea has been haunting me ever since, especially as I watch some people in our church suffering economically (and in a dozen other ways). As a Pastor I'm filled with compassion and pain for all of them, and yet I am always deeply concerned that those of us who suffer wouldn't let our trials be wasted. God wants to use our pain for our joy and his glory (boy oh boy, I've been effected by Piper).  

I was just talking with some students the other night about how shallow our American Evangelical concepts of suffering can be. The Bible has so many rich things to say about suffering that we should be absolutely shocked at ourselves the next time we casually shout, "why me!" when something goes wrong.   God help us to finally start to think Biblically, and sound like James or Paul when we encounter trouble.

Its hard to get my intended tone clear here, so let me just describe my attitude. I say this as someone who has been seeking God for help to see what it means to live an authentically Christian, and genuinely New Testament life.

1 Peter 1:6-9

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

James 1:2-4   

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

This post started as nothing more than a link to this clip from the desiring God blog. Check it out.