Know Him by Suffering

    The book, Mimosa, by Amy Carmichael is a stunning true story of an Indian woman who spent one afternoon with Christians as a young girl, then went away convinced she must serve their God. Through grief and heartache, disdained by friends and family, she spent the next twenty years striving to do this alone. She knew no other Christians. She did not know how to read. She was led strictly by the Spirit of the One whom she loved, and who loved her.
    After years had passed, she was reunited with her sister who had lived among Christians for many years. As she looked over her sister’s shelves of books and Bibles, Mimosa said simply, “You know Him by learning, but I know Him by suffering.”
    I was instantly struck by the beauty of this thought. To know Him by suffering! We can learn ever so much of the doctrines, the guidelines, the passages of Scripture, but we must be willing to know Him by suffering.
    Suffering takes many forms. It is doubtful that one can live life entirely free of it. For some, suffering is the loss of a loved one. For another, it is an illness that disrupts life. There are those who hold suffering to be the loss of a job, the lack of a partner, the inability to have their own children. Perhaps suffering is sometimes a struggle that takes place in one’s own mind—the doubts and fears, the evil whispers in one’s ear that life is not worth living. But the form of suffering is not so important as what one does with the suffering.
    When the way looks dark, what can one do, but “draw night to God?” (James 4:8) Oh, there is another option. We can turn away from Him, leave Him standing with hands outstretched, alone, and walk toward the well-worn way where the Evil One has promised life shall be easier, with less suffering. But what many fail to understand is that though the way may be smoother, the tears do not cease falling. The pain does not dissipate—it is only dulled by the distractions at hand.
    Yet if we draw nigh to God, turn to those outstretched hands, we are promised that “…God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes…” (Revelations 21:4a) and “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee…” (Isaiah 43:2a). What a beautiful picture of Love in suffering, and what a magnificent opportunity to draw nearer, to learn more of our Heavenly Father!
    Although our human hearts quake at the thought of suffering, the spiritual man can find victory and hope even in the darkest valley. As Paul wrote in Romans 5:3-5, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
    Whatever suffering you are experiencing in your life today, the scripture says to glory. Praise Him! Thank Him, even when it looks like everything is going wrong. When the crops are failing, thank him for your family. When a dear one passes, praise Him for the witness they left behind. While dreams are crumbling around you, turn a grateful heart toward the One who sends a song in the night, a message from a friend, a beautiful sunset.
    Easy words, yes. The Father understands how we struggle to put it in practice. But strive to do so. Turn toward Him, not away from Him. Lean into His love, let Him dry your tears, and learn to know and love Him more, even—no, especially— in the depths of suffering.

    Someday “…there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4b) And we will all stand together, amazed at the One whose Love has brought us safely Home.

Mimosa is not a long book (147 pages), but it is well worth your time. To give you an idea of the age group it is appropriate for, I would just say that the story itself is simple, suitable for lower to middle-grade children, although the wording may not always be easy for them to understand.