Psalm 83
A few days ago, one of my Facebook friends wrote this as a status update: “One upside to having a sick child… all the extra snuggles!” When I read that, it struck me that maybe God sometimes feels the same way. It is suffering, not necessarily ease and comfort, that drives us deeper into God’s arms. It is suffering that helps us identify with Him—the one who has been suffering since sin began in His universe.
Photo © Unsplash/Zach Vessels
Perhaps that’s why I noticed this oddity in today’s psalm: “Make [our enemies] like tumbleweed, my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm. Cover their faces with shame, Lord, so that they will seek your name.” (vs 13-16)
Wow! If that wasn’t a doozie at the end of that passage! Asaph goes off on a litany of what he would like God to do to his enemies—only to reveal that the reason behind this request is so that his enemies will come to know God. It seems Asaph himself knew something about his God, because whenever God took drastic action such as that described in this psalm, it was for the express purpose of bringing people back to Him.
Photo © Unsplash/Jordan Whitt
God uses suffering to bring us back to Him. No matter where the suffering comes from—whether it’s engineered by Satan or brought on by our own wicked choices—God takes it and works through it to bless us. He uses our suffering to draw us closer to Him; thus, He uses our suffering ultimately to our advantage.
Just as a mother cherishes the moments spent snuggling with her sick child, so God cherishes the things—even the difficulties—that drive us deeper into His arms. He likes to snuggle!