But If That’s What It Takes...

The last couple of years have been challenging, not only for me, but for many of my family and friends. Some have had health problems, others have been through financial hardship, and still others have lost loved ones. If this were the plot of a movie, one might at this point begin to wonder when the hero was going to emerge and save the day.

As I mentioned in my last note, MercyMe is one of my favorite bands. For those who may not be aware, the lead singer of MercyMe is a guy named Bart Millard. Bart lost his dad to cancer when he was a freshman in college; their hit song “I Can Only Imagine” is one of at least three I’m aware of that were birthed out of his grief over his father’s passing (“Homesick” and “Finally Home” are the other two). A few years ago (I forget exactly when), Bart’s son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. In the midst of all that, Bart wrote one of my favorite songs, “Bring the Rain.” (To read the lyrics, click here.) The chorus says:
“Bring me joy, bring me peace/Bring the chance to be free/Bring me anything that brings You glory/And I know there’ll be days when this life brings me pain/But if that’s what it takes to praise You/Jesus, bring the rain”
If you grew up in church, as I did, you’re probably familiar with the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul.” What you may not know is the history behind the hymn. The man who wrote it, Horatio Spafford, experienced multiple personal tragedies in the span of only a couple of years, including the loss of all four daughters in a shipwreck. Yet, as he later passed over the spot where the ship had gone down, he wrote:
“When peace like a river attendeth my way/When sorrows like sea-billows roll/Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say/‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’”
Many years ago the group DC Talk, collaborating with The Voice of the Martyrs, released the book “Jesus Freaks.” It’s sort of an updated version of “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs,” and the title of the book is a reference to their hugely popular album and song, “Jesus Freak.”
In our Western culture, it’s all too easy when we face hardships to feel like we’re being persecuted. Some minority groups love to bring up the word in an attempt to evoke sympathy. Even those of us considered in the majority use the term. My friend David Limbaugh, a dear brother in Christ, wrote a book a few years ago called “Persecution.” Don’t get me wrong -- it’s a wonderful book, and a must read for anyone not aware of the extent of “hostility to all things religious in public life.” (You can read more about Limbaugh's excellent book, and find a link to purchase it, here.) But I find it hard to equate a court decision banning prayer at high school football games with people being tortured and killed because they believe in Jesus.
Let me close with a couple of passages of Scripture:
“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:32-40)
“In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. ... His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ...
“One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’
“While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’
“While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’
“While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’
“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’ In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” (Job 1:1,4,13-22)


See also:
John 15:18-20
James 1:2-4
Hebrews 12:7-11
2 Corinthians 12:10
Philippians 4:3
Isaiah 53:10
Romans 8:18
1 Peter 3:13-17
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UPDATE: Here's one more verse to add to the "see also" that a friend just posted: "[God] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:45)
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UPDATE #2: Yet another passage to add to the above: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."