Magdy Samuel

Serialized Articles From:
"Peace amid Pain"

Last Published Devotions

Why is Pain?
Third:
Paul and the Divine protection

Pain and sufferings could be for future purposes and not necessarily for present reasons. You may not see a clear reason why you are in pain or why are you deprived of something; you may not find any benefit out of it now.  As gold enters the fire not only for purification but also to be able to withstand against erosions without being affected; the believer also may be exposed to pressures and pains for future reasons.

The Apostle Paul says: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” He did not say "for I have exalted” as he did not exalt, before the thorn or after it, he even humiliated himself before God and begged Him that it might depart from him; God’s answer to him was: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” as if God is saying to him: "I won’t remove the thorn and its pains; I will leave it to protect you and I will grant you with it my grace, so that you could bear its pains”. Then Paul accepted his pain and was also proud of it saying: "Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 7-10).

Sometimes, God allows us a preventive pain; for we do not know what is hidden or what will encounter us:  “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”(John 13:7).

Following my service with the suffering and needy souls, I can now understand why God has let me pass through pains in my childhood and adulthood; what I was complaining of, iswat made me qualified for this service: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians2:10).

Childhood hurts and wounds are blessings to our lives, so let us not believe the saying that childhood hurts have effects that cannot be erased or healed. I have pity on those who are fooled and captivated by words of philosophy and false explanation thus falling into self lamentation.

How difficult was Joseph's childhood. He lost his mother at an early age, he grew up in a house full of conflicts, among brothers who hated him and envied him; they dropped him in a well then sold him as a slave. Also he was a slave to a wicked woman. However now, we see that all what happened was authorized by God and for Joseph’s good. All the pressures that Joseph has faced in his early age were necessary to protect him from pride, and made his wise, having the spirit of God; and thus became in control and ruling all the land of Egypt at the age of thirty.

O. Brother, who is complaining of what happened to you in the past and what is happening now, and you don’t know the reason; stop complaining and then you will understand God’s purposes from his dealings with you. Lift your eyes up and thank God for what His generous and merciful hands had offered you of affliction and say: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” (Psalms 119:71)

Magdy Samuel