The blessings of God can be so evident to the believer that she lives a life of thankfulness. This is a great response to those blessings but in this life, God has left us many instructions for those times that “feel” like they are anything but blessings. In fact, most people clearly see many circumstances that cause them to suffer. Can we be thankful when life is hard, when we are suffering?

My husband, as he was going through chemotherapy treatment for one kind of cancer while they put treatment for the second one on hold, said that he found it much easier to be thankful than it was to obey James 1:2-4. It instructs us like this: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

The treatment plan was definitely a trial but hardly what we would call something that brought joy. It took a toll on his body and was something he had to wrestle with spiritually in order to find the joy.

There are many kinds of trials in our lives. Cancer is one that, even if we treat it with alternatives to chemo, is difficult, sometimes painful, and very expensive. There is not an easy way out of that trial. As my husband said at that time, “This is a trial I can’t go around; I’ve got to go through it.”

Other trials sometimes come with what appears to be an “easy out.” These are often brought on by our own sin or neglect and wanting out of it fast because we think we can avoid the consequences!  For instance:

• In a difficult marriage we might remain silent and do little things that irritate our spouse to make a point that they don’t get. That seems easier than emotional conversation at the time but nothing changes. Over time the antagonism increases until you hate each other and don’t want to address the real issues.
• In a pre-marital relationship a couple steps away from God’s plan and gets pregnant. They don’t want anyone to find out the sin so they rush to the abortion clinic to kill the baby – the “easy out.” But they end up multiplying their guilt.
• In a moment of weakness we buy something on impulse that costs WAY too much money and “suffer” through the next few months trying to unethically or illegally cover it up or hide the problem to get the money we now need. That might be easy but, again, the subsequent guilt causes suffering.

Many Christians today believe that God is going to bless us for our suffering but that is clearly not what His Word tells us. He does promise never to leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). He promises to be our ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). He assures us that He will go through the waters and fire with us (Isaiah 43:2). He is a God of compassion and a provider of what we need.

But, if what we’re looking for are His blessings, we must approach all of life’s suffering with obedience. Look at God’s Word from Deuteronomy 28:1-2:

Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God…

This is remarkable – if we obey God “diligently” His blessings will overtake us! There are many times when the Prophets or God Himself would instruct Israel in the Old Testament and they did not listen to God and were told that they would be judged for it (Deuteronomy 1:43; Judges 2:17; 2 Chronicles 24:19; Nehemiah 9:30). Today, we want to call everything that happens to us suffering and expect God to “take care of it” regardless of how we respond to it.

When you think about it closely, we really do go through every trial – there’s no “going around it.” Christen sisters (and brothers), we are not above the Law of God. He is forgiving to a repentant sinner but He will work with us to change the behavior of His child who is not listening to Him (Hebrews 12:5-7). He’s looking for obedience.

Will we examine our “suffering?” If it is a cancer (or other disease), we must go through it but, if we brought it on by not listening to God, could we repent and begin to see the blessings of God as He acts to forgive, restore us, and overtake us with His blessings? Wouldn’t that be something to “count as joy?”