I was thinking this afternoon about the fiery trials that the Lord puts us through in order to "smelt away the dross as with lye and remove all alloy (Isaiah 1:25)," specifically when it feels as though the Lord has withdrawn His presence from a believer. Amidst the trials and darkness of some seasons of life as a Christian, it can feel as though God no longer walks beside you, no longer upholds you with His strong right hand (Psalm 63:8). For example, Darlene Rose, in that Japanese death camp when she was in solitary confinement awaiting execution. During that time, she felt exactly that thing happen - the Lord withdrawing His presence, even in the midst of soul-soaring worship. However, God brought to her mind 2 Corinthians 5:7: "we walk by faith, not by sight." She was filled with such joy at the thought that she was able to sing hymns and praises to her Father amid Job-like affliction! It's an incredible encouragement, but our example for living, really, is Christ Himself; as 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, "Be imitators of me as I am of Christ."
We are to follow His example in every aspect - dealing with grief and sorrow is no exception. In fact, it seems only natural to imitate the "man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53:3)" Christ was wholly perfect in His time on earth, always totally believing the promises of God for every second of every day. When on the cross, bleeding and dying and suffering the most agony any being will ever endure, even crying out "My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46, Psalm 22:1)" He truly was living by faith and not by sight, as shown by the rest of the Psalm Jesus quotes there. Forsaking His earthly "self" in order to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15), let us imitate Christ, as Paul did, and violently crucify our worldly "selves." "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)" Then we, like Paul, can truly understand what he wrote to the Corinthians: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-20)"
Do not lean on your own understanding, brethren, but "in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5 & 6)"
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