Until recently, I’ve never understood Ecclesiastes 7:1-14. The day of one’s death being better than the day of one’s birth? A house of mourning better than a house of feasting? Sorrow better than laughter? I’ve experienced both mourning and feasting, birth and death, sorrow and laughter this year, giving me a little glimpse into why the author may have made these claims.
Mourning and death and sadness sober men into contemplating the things that really matter. When challenged with mourning personally, God gave me more boldness to praise Him than during any time of ease. Like the author writes, “…The living takes it to heart… The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.” When life is wonderful, people grow lax and accept triviality and worthlessness and foolishness for being acceptable; they actually blind themselves into thinking small things are important and hold value.
These observations have collided in my mind with something I heard recently on the radio- that it might not be the best idea to pray for protection. God most effectively seems to bring growth, amazing results and glory to Him through tribulation – not through times of ease. Think Joseph… Daniel… Paul… even Christ Himself. What if Daniel was never threatened to death by lions? What if Joseph was never abused by his brothers? What if Paul were protected from all calamity and persecution? What if Jesus chose ease over unjust and painful death? Not only their lives, but the course of history would be dramatically altered. I watched a program honoring “average” people for their significant contributions to make this world better. Every single one of the thirty people honored made their contribution – creating a charity; mentoring; helping someone else – only after they were faced with an extremely trying circumstance. Not one person in the group was inspired to truly make a difference while living a life of ease.
So why should I pray that things will be easy for me… no sickness or physical problems, safety always or success in my endeavors? Can I be missing God’s greater plan in the murky depths because I’m floating near the foamy surface, drinking sweetness of life through a straw of false contentment? Can I be trading an opportunity for me to give glory to Him solely for the sake of comfort? I’m wrestling. It’s beyond unnatural to say that I’d welcome tribulation; it’s even scary to think about. Pain and sorrow are difficult, even to the person who knows God is good and God is omnipotent. I have experienced pain, yet I’ve been blessed beyond what I can comprehend and with greater joy than I could ever deserve. I know suffering will come again. When it does, I want to welcome it and remember that God doesn’t allow suffering because He’s turned His back on me; He allows it because He has great expectations to call me into something better and more weighty than foolish pleasure could have ever facilitated.
Further thoughts..
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis
“Let not excess of love and delight in the stream make us forget the fountain.” Lucy Hutchinson (I don’t want to enjoy my blessings so much that I forget that God is the source of all good in my life.)
Still wrestling.
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