John-David

It seems to be one of those seasons where many of the people I am close to are struggling with something major. It is a season where several friends are suffering; afflicted by things and circumstances of this world, largely outside their control. I was listening to a song earlier and they cut part of a John Piper sermon into the song, it was really well done and caused me to reflect on suffering and affliction.

“Not only is all of your affliction momentary; not only is all of your affliction light in comparison to eternity and the glory there; but all of it is totally meaningful. …every millisecond of your misery in the path of obedience…” John Piper

Romans 5:3-5 says, “³ Not only that, but 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.”¹ 

What Paul and Piper both want to draw our attention to is that suffering is purposeful. It is not meaningless. If you believe in a sovereign God, it is in fact never meaningless. Suffering is meant to work in your heart and mind to create endurance for a life of gospel purpose. Suffering does not give you life purpose in the worldly sense, but only in the divine sense. Only when we learn God’s perspective does the meaning of suffering began to take shape.

It is in suffering that the question, “Is God enough?” becomes more than an Sunday School question. We have all probably heard or even said, “God is enough” or some variation thereof. But it is in suffering that God asks the question, “Am I enough?” This is not a teacher or mentor asking the question. This is not a preacher or a song asking the question. This is God asking you, “Am I enough.”

We see this reflected in Paul’s words to the church at Corinth, “⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”²

Paul answered when God asked him, “am I enough for you?” But I have to think even with Paul, this was not a one time decision. Day-in and day-out, Paul likely had to remind his heart, “God’s grace is sufficient for me.” When you suffer a set back or heart break, how do you answer the question the Father asks of each of us, “Am I enough?”

The song that inspired this post says:

Though you take from me, I will bless your name.

Though you ruin me, still I will worship

When my I am broken hearted from loss, do I bless God’s name? When I feel ruined, do I still worship? In the midst of suffering, do I wake day-by-day and preach to myself God’s word?

If you are suffering or struggling with something, I would love to pray for you and help carry that weight. Please call, text, or email me; you can be as specific or vague as you want or need to be, but I would love to pray for you. 

1.  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 5:3–5.” ↩︎
2. Ibid. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 12:8–9. ↩︎