God’s Megaphone (Part 1 of 4)

In light of our All Church Study entitled, “Transformational Transitions: Walking with God in Seasons of Change”, I am going to share a series of blogs originally written in 2012 about God’s Megaphones. As we learned in our All Church Study, transitions which lead to transformation often times include trials and suffering. How should we, as Christians, view pain and suffering? 

C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” 

I first read this quote when I was experiencing excruciating pain from a bulging disc in my lower back. The pain got so unbearable that I consented to a surgery, which had a fifty percent chance of resulting in permanent paralysis.

Indeed, “God shouts in our pains… it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Over the next few Blogs, I am going to share some thoughts on pain and suffering. 

First thought: If you are currently going through a painful experience, it may be difficult for you to read what I am writing.

C.S. Lewis wrote: “You can’t see anything while your eyes are blurred with tears.”

From the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46b) At the moment He said those words, His suffering was intolerable because He was taking on the sins of the world. Even the Son of God reacted to suffering and pain.

So the wisest thing to do may be to know that your eyes are blurred with tears. 

Second thought: God does not cause pain and suffering.

We suffer because of the choices we make. Sometimes, we make bad choices, which can result in pain and suffering, like Judas choosing to betray Jesus. Other times, we make good choices, which can result in pain and suffering, like Jesus choosing to go the cross for us. 

We suffer because of the choices others make. Jesus’ sufferings were the result of the choices the leaders of Israel and Rome made regarding Him. 

We suffer because we live in a fallen world. If we read and believe Genesis 3, then we know why suffering exists in this world. It’s all about sin.

We suffer because we are fragile. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 that we are all fragile earthen vessels susceptible to “affliction in every way”. Even Superman had his kryptonite.

One thing we can all be sure of is that we all endure pain and suffering oft and on during the course of living. Two things to remember during those seasons in life are that pain and suffering (1) makes life extremely difficult and (2) God did not cause the pain and suffering.

Something to think about…