This was written by Jeff Adams, pastor in Kansas City, upon attending a concert last night. What a challenge to the people of God!
“Two of the other composers heard from tonight were Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. If you know much at all of music history, you are aware that these men were tormented souls. Among the painters, Van Gogh and Gauguin also suffered incredible personal anguish. There have been, of course, some remarkably happy and well-balanced musicians and artists down through the centuries, but it is striking how many were hugely flawed, hurt or both. Yet, God used these individuals and many others to bless us with great beauty.
I find it fascinating that hurt, pain and agony squeeze beauty and creativity out of some people and bitterness and selfishness out of others. The four talents I mention above made no pretense of having a victorious spiritual walk with God; they were not happy or satisfied people. How sad that many who profess great devotion to God, study the Bible voraciously and even engage in Christian ministry are sometimes those who are most angry and bitter. There is no beauty to behold, despite an occasional Bible study on the joy of the Lord being our strength.
The Apostle Paul said that we must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). He also told Timothy that all of us who would live godly in Christ Jesus would suffer persecution (2Timothy 3:12). As I took my seat at the concert and turned my Blackberry to vibrate, I saw an urgent email forwarded from Latin American sources urging prayer for a family set to be executed this evening in a Central Asian country if they do not denounce their faith in Christ. What did they do wrong? Maybe nothing.
Despite such plain teaching, many of us never learn to embrace pain and suffering and find beauty. Instead, we tend to flee pain at all cost and wonder what we have done wrong or why God has let us down. We naturally find it hard to reconcile pain and suffering with abundant living.
I would hate to waste pain and suffering! It’s hard enough as it is. I want to be certain that I allow my hurt to drive me to God, not away from him. Suffering is not something I seek; it is something I am promised. I want to have open eyes to discover the beautiful side of hurt and pain.”