Painful Adventure – 2 June 2010

O Wind of God, come bend us, break us,
Till humbly we confess our need;
Then in Thy tenderness remake us,
Revive, restore, for this we plead.  [Elizabeth Porter Head]

This is the second verse of a great hymn about life in the Spirit.  I think it sums up my view of the way we learn and grow and find wholeness.

Do you want to pray the prayer “O wind of God come bend me, break me?” Most of us would give an emphatic “No!” to that question, and quite right.  Who wants pain?  Who would willingly embark on a road leading to suffering if they are in a good state of mind? Yet for most of us this is life’s experience at some point.  Whether that suffering comes from God’s say so (as in the case of Job), or from the “thief who comes to steal and destroy” I cannot say, but as Jesus says to his disciples “In this world you will have trouble”.  But of course, Jesus doesn’t leave it there.  He continues to say “But take heart, I have overcome the world!” John 16:33 [NIV]

So continuing this week’s thought of a life of adventure, why would we pray for God to break us?  Well, as suffering is something that God uses to teach us, it is better to engage with what God is saying than avoid it.  We need to be made into the likeness of Christ. Thankfully, we have the sure knowledge that God is with us.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 [NIV]

I think it is important that we don’t dwell in our suffering longer than we need, that we don’t wallow in self pity, but move on to find healing and wholeness.  And that healing and wholeness ultimately comes from Christ, once we realise we need him more than anything else, and cast ourselves on him.