For a Little While, Part III

The fear of the Lord is the third comfort that the Lord has given to me during this season of suffering. You see, the fear of the Lord and the fear of man are mutually exclusive. Much of my spiritual and emotional distress over the years has been an outgrowth of the fear of man and a refusal to believe that “there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This time of suffering and uncertainty has forced me to rehearse what I know to be true about my life and my salvation—that God’s fundamental orientation toward me has changed as a result of a Gospel which declares that God is now for me in Christ. Romans 8:28 leaves little room for doubt; the design of God, for those who love him and are called according to his purpose, is salvation. What does salvation mean? In God is the Gospel, John Piper describes salvation as an “all-encompassing word” that “embraces all the gospel promises, such as the promise of healing, help for the poor, liberation for captives, peace, eternal life, global expanse, and the all-satisfying vision of the glory of God."

That—the vision of the glory of God—is what I had missed in my salvation for years. Yet there were moments, in the darkest times of suffering, that the Lord revealed himself to me in new ways. And what can I report? Yes, I was satisfied. I was satisfied in the midst of my suffering, because God is great beyond all measure. Even in my sanctified, glorified body, I will never be great. The people of whom I have been afraid will never be great. "Michele! Hear this." God is great. May those who seek him rejoice and be glad in him. May those who love his salvation say forever, "God is great!” (Psalm 70:4).

So I remind myself regularly that the Lord will accomplish His purposes for me (Psalm 57:2, Romans 8:28). And his purposes are not feeble like my own; he has purposed no less than my total salvation. So, after I have suffered a little while, the God all grace, who has called me to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish me (I Peter 5:10). There is no post-illness contingency in God’s plan. He will accomplish His purposes for my life; working in me a salvation that will be to the praise of his glory. So I will rejoice in the hope of the glory of God—not in the hope of a diagnosis or the alleviation of pain.