TEXT: Psalm 39:9

SUBJECT: Mute Christian #9

Tonight, the Lord willing, we’ll complete the Puritan study we started a couple of months ago. It’s called The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod. The author is Thomas Brooks. The subject is Suffering with Grace.

God wants you to be quiet in the problems of life. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t say anything, of course, but that you mustn’t pout or murmur or blame the Lord or lash out at other people when things aren’t going your way. This isn’t easy, of course. But it is possible. A good friend of mine died ten days ago. His last year was full of pain, weariness, and disappointment. At times, he told me he wasn’t feeling well or that he was tired, or that he didn’t think he’d recover, but I never heard anything that sounded like grumbling. In his life—and death—God’s grace was sufficient.

It’s enough for you, too. It is possible for the believer to suffer many things in life without becoming bitter or full of self-pity.

Thomas Brooks can help us on this one. In the last chapter of his book, he offers a summary. He recalls five things you must remember if you’re to suffer quietly. Here they are…

On this point, the Bible could not speak more clearly. Two verses come to mind. Hebrews 12:6, and Revelation 3:19.

Note the inclusive language. God disciplines "every son". The Lord Jesus rebukes and chastens "as many as [He] loves". All of God’s people suffer. Every one of us.

And we suffer—not because the Lord can’t help it or because He’s mean—but because He loves us. The Lord’s love for His people not only allows them to suffer, but guarantees it.

The father who never corrects his children and never makes them do anything they don’t want to do is a bad father! Letting your kids grow up without discipline proves you don’t love them! Proverbs 13:24,

Our Father in Heaven is a Good Father. He won’t let any of His kids grow up without the rod and reproof—"which give wisdom".

This is the theory. If you read the Bible, study Church History, and talk to solid, experienced believers, you’ll find it true in practice.

What great Bible character had no problems? Abel? Noah? Abraham, Isaac, Jacob? Moses? David, Daniel, or Paul? And what about Job? And, of course, our Lord Jesus Christ? Hebrews 5:8,

Some of the problems these men faced were direct disciplines for their sin—Moses, for example, died for striking the Rock the second time. But most of them weren’t. And, in the case of our Lord, none of them was!

Go to Church History and you’ll find the same thing. George Whitefield lost his son in infancy. William Carey’s wife was a lunatic. John Calvin had asthma his whole life. Susannah Wesley was married to a proud and cruel man. David Brainerd died at 29. Jonathan Edwards was fired. Spurgeon had the gout and suffered from depression. Martin Luther often did not know where his next meal was coming from.

Thomas Brooks cites a German Christian named Munster.

that covered his body, and he said, These are

God’s gems and jewels with which He decks

His best friends, and to me, they are more

Precious than all the gold and silver in the world’".

Talk to Christians you know. God loves them very dearly, yet they’ve been sick or lost loved ones, or been in money jams, or have had rocky marriages or children who broke their hearts.

Here’s another quote from Brooks,

If you’re tempted to get mad or sulk about your problems, just remember God sent them your way because He loves you. That’s Number One.

YOUR EARTHLY PROBLEMS ARE THE ONLY ONES YOU’LL EVER HAVE.

The best things an unbeliever will ever have are the things of this world. They may be very sweet, indeed—a long life, good health, a loving wife, happy kids, a fine salary, and so on. But what are these things compared to the eternity he must suffer when his life ends? They’re not much, we all say.

Now, turn the picture around. The worst things a believer will ever have are the things of this world. They may be very bitter indeed—sickness, poverty, disappointment, humiliation, and death. But what are these compared to the eternity he must enjoy when his life ends? They’re not much.

Every believer’s life is a fairy tale! Like Hansel and Gretel, we get lost in the woods and put in a witch’s oven, but then…we live happily ever after! Paul says,

Ten days ago, my friend was dying and I was living. But now, it’s he who’s living and I who am dying! My friend is no longer subject to cancer. But I am. He’ll never have another pain, another tear, another loss of any kind. But all the above await me. And you, too. Ten days ago, his sufferings were terrible. But now they’re gone. Forever. And you know what? They don’t hurt him one bit anymore! He’s not just cured. He’s well!

Remember how short-lived your problems are and you won’t be so apt to gripe about them. Here’s the quote,

That’s Number Two.

Problems take things from us. A lot of them are very precious. Health, family, respect, a good living, and other things we want. But they don’t take away the things that matter most. Not even in this world. Sickness does not take God away from me. Poverty does not rob me of Christ. Embarrassment does not take the Holy Spirit out of my body or soul.

If we could only remember this, we’d gripe far less than we do. And praise the Lord as Job did,

We must never say this without compassion. But we must say it. Problems are good for us. They teach us how weak we are and how dependent on the Lord. We know these things intellectually. But how well do we know them until we mess up or something bad happens? They also give us sympathy for others. They stimulate prayer. They break our love of sin. They wean us off the world. They make us prize heaven more.

The Bible is very clear on this one, Romans 8:28. If you read the verses around it, you’ll find the "all things" that do us good are things like futility, groaning, and long, long, waiting.

When times are hard, you need to read this verse over and over again. But that’s not all you need to do. You also need to look back over your life and see the bad things that have happened, and how God turned them to your good. Here’s the quote,

That’s Number Four.

This was the topic of last Sunday’s sermon. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were thrown into a fiery furnace. But they didn’t go alone. One like the Son of God went with them.

And not only with them. He also joins us in our problems. He doesn’t always solve our problems, but He’s always there with us in our problems. Here’s the quote,