Dear Christian Friends:

A 94 year old pastor, the Rev. E. J. Friedrichs, a former president of the Colorado District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, was badly injured in a car accident recently. He was coming home one evening with his son when the on-coming: car drifted across the center line and hit the Friedrich's car head-on. It appears that the driver of the other car fell asleep at the wheel. Rev. Friedrichs suffered several broken bones and also internal injuries. He will suffer with his injuries for a long time in the hospital. Perhaps he will die sooner because of that accident.

Why did God permit that to happen to His good and faithful pastor- servant? Why does God often let His dear people suffer? Perhaps you yourself have asked that question.

In our text we find the answer to that question. In our text St. Paul answers that question for us.

Why Does God Permit Christians To Suffer?

You know that St. Paul was God's chosen missionary to the Gentile nations of Asia Minor. And you know Paul was a faithful minister of God. Nevertheless God let him suffer much. He says that God gave him a "thorn in the flesh," a certain illness, which Paul does not name.

First, Paul says that God permitted him bodily pain so that he would not become proud, but remain humble, So God permits us Christians suffering so that we will become humble and remain humble. Suffering illnesses and other troubles makes us realize that we are human. When I was young, a teenager, I did not believe that I could die.

I heard about other people dying, but I never thought that I could die or have much trouble. But then my brother was killed in a construction accident and after that I realized I, too, could die after someone close to me had died. His death helped me to become more humble and realize how limited and weak our body is. I'm sure you have had similar experiences.

We all have our "thorn in the flesh ": deafness, blindness, arthritis, varicose veins and other signs of aging. Don't despise your “thorn in the flesh." It helps you to remember that you are a weak, limited human person, like everyone else.

Suffering also reminds us of our spiritual need. It did that for Paul. God had used Paul in many wonderful ways and had given him high honor in the Church. God even let him see heaven. (vv. 1-4) And God revealed His Word through Paul. Paul could have become proud and thinking himself better than other Christians because God used him and honored him in the Church. So God gave him this sickness, this “thorn in the flesh'" to keep him humble, reminding him of his need for God's grace.

When we have spiritual joys and blessings and when God uses us, we perhaps think that we deserved that and boast and think that God used us and honored us because we are better than other church members. But suffering and troubles help us to remember that we are sinners and deserve nothing good from God, as Paul says in another letter, that we are by nature under God's anger, the same as others, that we were dead in law-breaking and in sins. It is only because of His much mercy and great love that we have become alive in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-5) When God uses us and honors us with spiritual blessings it is not because we are worthy of that or deserve it. It is only because of His great mercy and love in Jesus. Suffering and troubles help us to remember that.

Suffering also helps us to appreciate God's grace more and more, and to pray to God for relief.

Paul's suffering caused him to pray to God for relief. He says, "Three times I prayed to the Lord to take away my pain.” (v. 8) Paul wished that God would heal the sickness if it be His will.

We, too, should pray to God when He permits sickness and other troubles to happen to us. And leave it to Him to decide whether or not we are healed and freed. He loves us more than we love ourselves. He knows what is best for our individual lives. Trust His grace and love for you by praying to Him, In the back of your "Portals of Prayer" booklet there is a Prayer by One Who Is Ill. When you are ill pray that prayer.

When Paul prayed God answered his prayer, but God did not heal Paul's illness. God_ answered to him, "My grace is enough for you. My power is strongest when you are weak." (v. 9a) Paul accepted that answer from God. He accepted the illness and continued to suffer patiently. He did not become angry at God or curse God as some do when they suffer. He continued to believe that God loved him and forgave his sins in Jesus. He found rest and comfort in God's beautiful grace. We, like Paul, should accept whatever God permits to happen to us and to continue to believe in Jesus our Savior.

Suffering also teaches us to trust God's power ‘not our own power After God heard His prayer and did not heal him but told him, "My grace is enough for you. My power is strongest when you are weak," then Paul said, "I shall therefore rather find joy and pride in my weakness so Christ's power will come and stay on me." (v. 9b) Like Paul, we should rejoice and thank God when He permits sickness and troubles to happen to us, because then we pray more and trust in His Word and promises more and not trust in ourselves or in other earthly things.

Paul gives the secret of a victorious life amidst sufferings and troubles. We find it in verse 10b. He says, "When I am weak, then I am truly strong."

That's why God lets His people suffer! He loves us and knows what's best for us.

Amen