When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. — Revelation 6:9-11
I got an email one day from someone who told me that she hates God because she finds Him to be cruel. As I prayed and reflected on how to best answer her, I realized that I don’t have very many answers. I don’t know why life doesn’t make sense, and why so many people suffer so terribly. I knew that even if I had the answers, they probably wouldn’t satisfy her. God has all the answers, but He only chooses to share some of those answers with us. If we really needed answers, I guess He would give them to us.
Here in this passage, God’s saints in heaven cry out for an answer. But God doesn’t give them a direct answer. All He does is tell them that every person’s
suffering counts. There is weight and value in every person who suffers. Each one is bringing God’s plan closer to it’s conclusion. The moment will come when the last saint will fall. Then God will rise and judge the earth.
When I wrote my reply, all I could do was tell her what suffering people had shown me. I had nothing to offer her, because what are my little trials compared to years of pain? But I could point her to members of the heavenly family who know pain more intimately than I do. I stood on the sidelines and looked with awe at what God had done in their lives. And I invited her to look with me. I couldn’t explain it to her. Rather I just stood there, like a little child, and pointed at something I didn’t understand.
Their suffering counts. It speaks when I am silent. It brings God back into the lives of the people He loves.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
To find out more about Dwight Clough, his books, his ministry, or to receive this devotional via email visit DwightClough.com. Dwight and his wife Kim are active members of Lake City Church in Madison.