The Man of Sorrows
“For if He causes grief, then He will have compassion.” Lamentations 3:32
Causes Grief – Jeremiah was a prophet of unusual insight. Perhaps that’s because he got his vision straight from God. Here Jeremiah gives us a glimpse of the connection between grief and compassion. It’s not the connection we would expect. Jeremiah tells us that God is behind both of these events.
Do you remember Job’s declaration? “If we take good from the hand of the Lord, should be not also accept bad?” Jeremiah flips Job’s statement around. The emotional trauma and despair that comes from affliction is not accidental. When we hear Paul say that all things work together, that means all things, not just the ones that bring our version of blessing and reward. Every real disciple understands the impact of Jeremiah’s connection because every true disciple travels the road to the cross. Jesus, the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, is the one we follow. No one promised you a primrose path, least of all Jesus. What a tragic and emotionally devastating mistake we make when we buy into the lie that being a disciple means escape from grief. It doesn’t! In fact, Jeremiah tells us that God Himself brings grief into the lives of human beings.
Oh, this is so hard to grasp. We thought God was always good. We never expected Him to bring tragedy and suffering. But, of course, we forgot that God is not about happiness. He is about holiness. And if grief leads us out of self-sufficiency and ego enhancement, then God will use it. God is not interested in making sure that our lives are filled with flowers. Thorns have their purposes too. Especially when we get off the path. That’s Jeremiah’s cry. “God, look at your people. They have abandoned Your teaching. They have fallen in love with the ways of the world. They act just like pagans. They don’t run to You. So, You will bring heartache and suffering and despair. Not because You want to hurt them, Lord, but because You know that only when they are at the end of the rope will they turn to the One Who loves them without qualification. Oh, God, help us see our folly.” Yes, lament over our foolishness. What ever made us think we could handle life without Him?
Yagah is the right kind of verb for this situation. Causing grief is still an act of holiness. Did you think that God would not use everything in His power to bring you toward Him, away from the sin that wants to destroy you? Can you stand before the Lord and say, “Father, I thank You for the grief You brought into my life. I know You only allow what shapes me for eternity. Wash my heart of its evil ways with this sorrow so that I may serve You”?
