God's Grace in Suffering - Part 1

I finished reading David Powlison's, God' Grace in Suffering. It is essentially a workbook for those who are experiencing suffering. Powlison asks pointed questions and leads the reader through ways to see God in his or her suffering. I've used this book for a couple of posts already and I thought I was done, but the last chapter ("CODA") is very good and I want to post it in its entirety over the next two posts. Powlison's counsel is wise and full of grace.

So often the initial reaction to painful suffering is "Why me? Why this? Why now? Why?" You've now heard God speaking with you through the truths of "How Firm a Foundation." The real God says all these wonderful things and does everything he says. He does not offer advice and perspective from afar; he steps into your significant suffering. He will see you through and work with you the whole way. He will carry you even in the most difficult situations. This reality changes the questions that rise up from you heart. That inward-turning "Why me?" quiets down, lifts its eyes, and begins to look around.

You turn outward and a new and wonderful question forms. "Why you? Why you, Lord of life? Why would you go through loss, weakness, hardship, sorrow, and death? Why would you do this for me, of all people? But you did. You did this for the joy set before you. You did this for love. You did this showing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

As that deeper question sinks home, you become joyously sane. The universe is no longer supremely about you. Yet you are not irrelevant. God's story makes you just the right size - neither too big nor too small. Everything counts and everyone matters, but the scale changes to something that makes much more sense. You face hard things. But you have already received something better, which can never be taken away. And that better something will continue to work out the whole journey long.

I'll continue in the next post.