Our comfort in pain, suffering and afflictions

This would be the 3rd Sunday I am not able to join my church family for the worship services
or go to work. The church Family I love and cherish dearly and the church I pastor. Well, not
because I have desserted the fellowship of believers but because my body as it were
‘decided to take a break.’
It was Saturday the 25th Nov 2023, while preparing to step out to go out and do the Lord’s
work in church then proceed for a meeting in another location when something funny
happened; I “sneezed” Yes, the sneezing you know and a sharp pain ran through my back.
Sharp pain is not a good signal if you have ever had back issues. We had planned for this
meeting so I thought why not just go. So I ignored the signal and stepped out, went to
church briefly as I waited for the afternoon when we would travel to the meeting. When
time came, I drove to where we were meeting with other brothers to proceed for the
meeting, but by this time I knew all is not well. The pain was worsening.
Off we went to the meeting, but the defining moments came when we arrived at our host’s
home and I needed to alight from the car. My lower back was all tight and agonizing me
with pain. I slowly walked to the hosts house and laid down at our hosts couch. We
fellowshipped while in this posture because by now any movement was a curse on me. The
pain!!
The time came to leave for home and perhaps this was some of the worst back pains I have
ever had since 2016 when I had a similar experience during Christmas day. By this time I
couldn’t rise from the couch, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t stand without help! Oh the Pain!
This time I couldn’t control tears from running my cheeks.
Back to the car, this time I could not sit but lay. We drove back, on my way I texted my
therapist to know whether I could see him. Sadly, it was a weekend he was not available till
Monday. I endured the pain through the weekend and on Monday I was on for the
appointment. I could not walk, so the therapist came to see me in the car and when he saw
me he said’ “You need to see a doctor and I advise you get an MRI, I suspect something is
wrong.” You don’t want to hear that from a therapist!
This was unexpected! I thought as usual I would go do my therapy and go home. By now
you must be noting that this is not the first time this has happened. This would be the 9th
year managing a torn and a bulging disc. However, this time it sounded rather serious; the pain
was agonizing!
Been at home now two weeks, largely spending time resting, taking medications and having
physiotherapy. Often times pain can either draw you to trust the Lord more or draw us to
despair! Praise the Lord who has been my anchor in this season!

The words of Paul to Corinthians have really been an encouragement to me:
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being
renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal
weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to
the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are
unseen are eternal.

Let me share 3 things in this passage:

a) That in this life, our outer self is constantly wasting away.
Paul teaches that in this life it will not be all rosy, but there will be times of pain,
affliction and suffering. Including the pain in our death and that of our loved ones. I
know this may not be very well received especially in the prevalence of prosperity
teachings in our society today, where we are given false hope. You have had people
wonder “why would a good God allow pain and suffering in the world?”

Well; When Adam and Eve our first parents sinned; all the humanity sinned.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The pain and suffering we have to endure on this side of life is a result of our sin against
a holy God.
It goes without saying, that because all of us sinned against a holy God; all of us are
prone to pain and suffering in this world as a consequence of sin. Our experiences of
pain and suffering may differ from one person to the other but none of us is immune to
suffering.
Actually, if you’re not suffering now, you’re near someone who is. And if you’re not
suffering now, fasten your seat belt. You will, someday. Suffering is a universal challenge
to humanity.

b) That our pain, afflictions, suffering are but momentary!
In verse 17, Paul states that this kind of afflictions, is not to eternity; it has an end.
Sometimes at the heat of pain, suffering, loss, we may lose heart and think ‘surely
God?!”
Apostle Paul encourages has that your pain even though it lasts all your years on earth
its just for a time. It will pass away.
Friends, even death is not all there is, its not the end and then we are forgotten; even
death itself we are assured of its death. It goes without saying, that even pain, suffering,
lack and affliction will one day die. How then do we live as a people with hope?

The words of John the revelator are assuring and comforting to us!
Rev 21:1-4

“21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth
had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is
with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be
with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall
be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the
former things have passed away.”

Friends, this is not mere wishful thinking about our future state, this is wonderful truth
that we can hold to. He will surely bring to end all our pain and suffering and in his
presence, we will find comfort forever.

c) There is an assured eternal glory for those who will endure in the Lord!

Verse “17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of
glory beyond all comparison.

Friends, what a joy to hear and know that the glory to come for us saints is
incomparable. Even though today we are in pain or suffering, it should not be lost on us
of the glory to come for us in Christ Jesus!
Indeed, even though our suffering may endure for as many years as we live on this
earth, the glory we will enjoy with Christ will be eternal.
Phillip Hughes puts it this way:
“Christian suffering, however protracted it may be, is only for this present life, which,
when compared with the everlasting ages of the glory to which it is leading, is but a
passing moment; affliction for Jesus’ sake, however crushing it may seem, is in fact light,
a weightless trifle, when weighed against the mass of that glory which is the inheritance
of all who through grace have been made one with the Son of God.”

Even so come Lord Jesus Come!