Finding Peace in Suffering

5 January

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gen. 3:19

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Philippians 3

Those who meekly submit to their sufferings present acceptable obedience to God if this cross-bearing along with increased knowledge of sin teaches them to be humble.

Truly it is by faith alone that one can offer such a sacrifice to God. But the faithful also labor in procuring a livelihood with the advantage of being stimulated to repentance and customizing themselves to the mortification of the flesh. God often remits a portion of this curse to His own children lest they sink beneath the burden. Psalm 127:2 says, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep."

As those things which have been polluted in Adam are repaired by the grace of Christ, the pious feel more deeply that God is good and enjoy the sweetness of His paternal indulgence. But because even at best the flesh is to be subdued, it not infrequently happens that the pious are worn down with hard labor and with hunger. So it is best that when we are admonished of the miseries of the present life, we should weep over our sins and seek relief from the grace of Christ, which not only can assuage the bitterness of grief but mingle sweetness with it.

FOR MEDITATION:

When we feel overwhelmed with work, illness, or other difficulties, it helps us to bring those matters to God in prayer. Why is this so? How does Christ our Savior graciously teach us to be humble as well as to enjoy the sweetness of His presence?

John Calvin

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke