In times of suffering

It has been a terrible week. Yes, a weak week for me. If you haven’t felt the heat nowadays, either you’re in Alaska or living in a faraway cave.

Summer has arrived earlier than  usual. The temperatures rose to a high 39°C in Manila mid last week. Cebu was not spared. It’s been humid and sticky  that the air-conditioner and the malls are everyone’s best friends.

Even cloistered indoors, the heat was just as unbearable that one day, my head  throbbed  painfully the whole day. I know it’s not my usual migraine but my blood pressure climbing that’s causing the severe headache.

Fear was creeping its way into my mind. What if I have an attack? With all the strength I could muster, I calmed myself as I knew that panic would send my blood pressure shooting even higher.

I did what I thought was the best way to soothe my nerves—sing to God. He will hear me I’m sure.

I found myself singing Don Moen’s song: “I am the God that healeth thee. I am the Lord Your Healer. I sent My Word and I healed your disease. I am the Lord Your Healer.”

My oppression may just be a light case compared to what you’re now going through. You may be bearing a lingering illness that is draining any  hope you might have. Or you may be in the throes of your  emotions (this is painful, too) because a loved one is gravely ill.

You know, after I sang that song, I felt peace and realized that in times of suffering, I just need to accept with faith that God is my ultimate Healer and Comforter.

I slept that night with a smile. My Mi Band,  that monitors and tracks my fitness and sleep quality registered two hours of deep sleep and 5 hours of light sleep– the longest I’ve had in 6 months.

Feeling better the next day, I got more encouraged when I read, in the devotional book Our Daily Bread, South African pastor Andrew Murray’s counsel to a troubled woman. He advised her to say just four things:

“First—God brought me here. It is by His Will I am in this strait place. In that I will rest.”

The tendency when we are  suffering is to ask, “Why me? Why not the other bad people around?”  So I need to accept that whatever is happening to me, God allowed it, for His good purpose.

“Next—He will keep me in His love and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.”

We forget that we are children of God and that as a good Father, He’d never abandon us especially in moments of suffering. So let’s act like  children of God who is very much loved no matter what we’re going through.

“Then—He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.”

God’s love is tough. Our suffering is not His punishment. It’s His way to make us stand up with faith from the fall– that stronger faith that there IS truly a God after all. After the suffering, realize that it actually made us a better person.

Last—In His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows.”

We are impatient beings. Especially in this digital age where many things are automatic and instant, we think there’s a quick fix for everything. So in times of suffering, we want an immediate resolution. Just wait. God knows best. Be still. Know that God moves in His own time, not in ours. And His time is always the best for us.

From hereon, join me in saying these words prayerfully in times of suffering, be it physical, emotional, social or financial. These are the private conversations we can have with God. Then like me,  sleep well …. rested and comforted.

When God permits suffering, He also provides comfort.