God's Grace in Your Suffering - Part 2

This is a second post related to the final chapter in David Powlison's book, God's Grace in Your Suffering.

Why you? The question generates a heartfelt response. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget any of the good things he does, who pardons all your iniquities and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with loving-kindness and compassions, who satisfies you with good things as your adornment, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Thank you, my Father." You are able to give true voice to a thank you amid all that is truly wrong, because all sins and all sufferings have now come under his loving-kindness.

Finally, you are prepared to pose - and to mean - an almost unimaginable question: "Why not me? Why not this? Why not now?" If in some way, your faith might serve as a three-watt night light in a very dark world, why not me? If your suffering shows forth the Savior of the world, why not me? If you have the privilege of filling up the sufferings of Christ? If he sanctifies to you your deepest distress? If you fear no evil? If he bears you in his arms? If your weakness demonstrates the power of God to save us from all that is wrong? If your honest struggle shows other strugglers how to land on their feet? If your life becomes a source of hope for others? Why not me?

Of course, you don't want to suffer, but you've become willing - like your Savior, who said, "If it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matt. 26:39 NASB). Like him, your loud cries and tears will in fact be heard by the One who saves from death. Like him, you will learn obedience through what you suffer. Like him, you will sympathize with the weaknesses of others. Like him, you will deal gently with the ignorant and wayward. Like him, you will display faith to a faithless world, hope to a hopeless world, love to a loveless world, life to a dying world. If all that God promises only comes true, then why not me?

This post is a little longer than usual, but I wanted you to read all of it together. I hope it was a blessing to you.