Burdened but Beautiful
Written By: Chris Mace
The way these trees and chairs have successfully held up under a heavy snowfall remind us that courage and strength withstanding the whims, burdens, and trials that life tosses at us are “beautiful”.
Difficulties (whether self-inflicted, other-inflicted, or the complications of a broken universe) are the crucibles which reveal our core character. They refine us, mature us, and help us clarify what is important. Scripture clearly teaches that there is meaning in all of life even if we don’t understand the why’s of our situations, that God is always near and responds to those who reach out to Him, that He can make everything beautiful in His time, and that all things will work for good when one is relying upon and desiring Him (Ecclesiastes 3:1) (Romans 8:28-29). Jesus’ brother James, who knew all about the struggles of poverty and loss and the horrors of persecution, testified that perseverance must finish its work so that we become mature and “complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4).”
These teachings are not always easy to accept. Our responses to suffering and adversity are a choice and may or may not be “beautiful.” When we are vulnerable, we may react with bitterness, or anger or be paralyzed by anxiety and depression. Or we may respond to challenging situations with thoughtful problem solving, strength, determination, patience, and joy-filled belief in God’s goodness in spite of the circumstances.
C.S.Lewis said that God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Our weaknesses declare our need for God. Life beyond our control proves how fragile our little worlds are and points us to how dependent we are upon the sovereignty and providence of God, who alone knows the reasons and holds the purposes of our situations and has the power to bring good out of evil just as he brought grace, mercy and salvation out of Jesus’ merciless, cruel crucifixion.
Understanding and trusting that God is unchangingly good, that He desires to redeem us and our circumstances, and that faith will be challenged and purified by “fiery trials” make it possible for believers to see the beauty and rejoice even though they may weep!