Glory In Tribulations—When God is silent

Romans 5:3-6  “…And we glory in tribulation also; knowing that tribulation worked patience, and patience, experience; and experience, hope. And hope maketh not ashamed.”

Ever so often in life, we find ourselves standing before God’s counter, thinking we know the itinerary. Good Health, a job promotion, a pregnancy, safe delivery, financial breakthrough and peaceful life. Many times, God checks the itinerary he created and says ‘Yes’. But there are times when he says “No, that isn’t the journey I have planned for you. I have you routed through the city of Struggle”

Have you ever been in a situation that you have prayed, fasted and sowed seeds for a transformation and the long awaited change did not come? Or you already believed one of Satan’s lies that God has forgotten all about you?

Be of good cheer, for He has engraved you on the palms of His hands, your walls are continually before Him.

Remember, Lazarus grew deathly ill. When Jesus heard the news, he did nothing. Jesus waited until Lazarus was four days in the grave. Why? ‘For the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it’ (John 11:4).

Joseph’s brothers abused him; selling him into slavery. Was God watching? Yes. And our sovereign God used their rebellious hearts to save a nation from famine and the family of the Messiah from extinction. As Joseph told them ‘God turned into good what you meant for evil’ (Genesis 50: 20)

Between the time Joseph was reported dead to his father and his sudden ‘resurrection’ in Egypt, his father Jacob (also Israel) did not hear a word from God on the true state of the purported death of his beloved son by wild beasts in the forest.

Later, God spoke to him at the time when the whole family was moving to Egypt to join Prime Minister Joseph. (Genesis 46: 1-4)

Even Jesus himself begged God for a different itinerary, a crossless death. From Gethsemane’s garden, Christ pleaded for a Plan B. A redemption without nails. “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him” (Luke 22:42-43)

Why do you expect that your own case will be different?

I have a personal story to tell

March 2002, I lost a special baby in faraway Europe under tragic circumstances. To cap it all, I was fighting for my life in the same hospital as a result of a medical mistake and carelessness.

For 21 days, we stood in the gap for the ‘very sick’ baby for God to have mercy and heal him like never before. Men of God visited and connected with us in prayers and fasting. We got some ‘miracle’ in that he could breathe on his own after several days on 100% ventilator.

On the 21st day, he passed on to glory and I wanted to die. I breast fed a dead child in faith, trusting God to revive him. I extended my ‘crazy’ faith further by refusing to allow burial till it became unbearable to keep a corpse in the hospital.

God was silent. I asked Him why He could not perform the miracle we see at the Redemption Camp back in Nigeria for me in Europe. His only reply was that ‘You can’t cope with him.’ I was angry at God for letting me down. Allowing me to return home empty handed without the pregnancy I left Nigeria with. Angry that he allowed the doctors to mess up with my womb, and now the prognosis is that if I fail to conceive in 2002, I should consider the road closed for my entire lifetime!

Yes, we also glory in tribulation, because 7 years after, I have twin girls plus a son for all the troubles of Europe.

In conclusion, I want to ask ‘Did God hear the prayer of His son enough to send an angel? Did God spare His only son from death? No. The glory of God outranked the comfort of Christ. So, Christ suffered and God’s grace was displayed and deployed to the whole world.

Selah.