I really hate cliff-hanger endings. I know some people consider it an art form, but I just get frustrated and want everything wrapped up and sorted out. I wrote a post a couple of years ago on the hardship of being in the middle of a story with no idea what the end will be. We like to listen to those who have completed that part of their journey—the cancer is gone, the marriage is restored, the kid has returned to the family. But right now, there is so much that cannot be tied up and completed. I feel that my most common answer to questions is “I don’t know.”
I battle with the part of me that wants to make plans, schedule things, get excited about whatever is coming next. And God keeps calling me back to moment-by-moment of walking with Him, and entrusting the ending and the future to Him. And frankly, I don’t like it.
The revelation I’ve been having, though, is how there is such a sweetness to that simplicity and smallness of the moments lived hand-in-hand with Jesus. I am weary, and it’s because I keep trying to run ahead and sort it all out for God. In taking a pause, I am reminded that it isn’t my responsibility to do God’s job—I get to follow.
The other piece of this revelation, though, is the celebration in the brokenness. And yes, you read that right—not after the brokenness, but in it. I’ve been reading a book called Suffer Strong, by Katherine & Jay Wolf. In it, they talk of experiencing the joyful rebellion of choosing to celebrate even in the middle of pain. Not celebrating the pain, but rather the God who we know will carry us through it. Even when we can’t see the end or how He’s going to do it, we can choose to thank Him because we know He’s faithful. This couple should know—she experienced a massive stroke at age 26, and they have learned to live with the complications that remain in her body.
This idea fascinated me as Katherine spoke of her friend hosting a celebration dinner after finding out her father had cancer to join together with their friends in prayer and mutual lifting up of their pain to their Father. And how she also had a brokenness brunch following her rehabilitation from a stroke, and invited all friends who were struggling with various life dilemmas. It sort of flies in the face of what we normally do—and it doesn’t take the place of lament. But it does mean we can come together and grieve together, as well as pointing each other to the place of hope and God’s love.
I wonder how our perspectives would change if we would choose to erect an figurative altar to God’s faithfulness in the middle. This “joyful rebellion” allows us to focus on the gifts that we have from Jesus, and keep the trials and tribulations from defining us.
In fact, I think this is how the people of God often confuse others—unexplained joy in the face of suffering because we know our God is bigger and He is faithful to complete the journey. I am not defined by my trials, but I can choose to celebrate in the brokenness, seeing past it to my faithful Father and His everlasting arms carrying me through.
In allowing celebration and thanksgiving in the middle, I am better equipped to move into growth in the pain, rather than resentment, bitterness and victimization. Yes, it hurts and I really don’t like the suffering. But if we can change our focus and see Jesus in the middle, we can be joyful and peaceful all the way through.
All praises belong to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort. He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us. And just as we experience the abundance of Christ’s own sufferings, even more of God’s comfort will cascade upon us through our union with Christ.
If troubles weigh us down, that just means that we will receive even more comfort to pass on to you for your deliverance! For the comfort pouring into us empowers us to bring comfort to you. And with this comfort upholding you, you can endure victoriously the same suffering that we experience. Now our hope for you is unshakable, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings you will also share in God’s comforting strength. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7