Deeper Life #227

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

—1 Peter 4:19

THE SPLENDID SOLITUDE OF GOD’S purpose transfigures agony into redemption, and the baffling hurricanes speed the soul like a “flaming arrow” into God’s great day. G. K. Chesterton, writing on the experience of Job, says, “But God comforts Job with indecipherable mystery, and for the first time Job is comforted. Eliphaz gives one answer, Job gives another answer, and the question still remains an open wound. God simply refuses to answer, and somehow the question is answered. Job flings at God one riddle, God flings back at Job a hundred riddles, and Job is at peace. He is comforted with conundrums.”

When the petty things, the trite things, the sentimental things, the poetic and the explainable things have been said about suffering, the still small voice of the Spirit puts the perpetual conundrum, “Hast thou considered my servant Job?” When our commonplace shoes are off our feet, and we stand before His cross, we hear the muddling conundrum still deeper and more perplexing, “This is my beloved Son, hear him.” “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief.”

We bow our heads, our spirits murmuring, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1).

Prayer Thought: Lord, I commit my present sufferings and future problems into Your hands.

SUGGESTED READING: Job 1:13–22