I went to the funeral of a dear friend this week, one who died much too young. She had experienced more personal abuse, pain and tragedy than anyone should have to endure in one lifetime, and yet was a walking contradiction, because for all that sadness, she seemed to exhale joy. It was palpable when you were around her, and she made no bones about the fact that this joy came from Jesus.

As the memories and stories flooded in among our mutual friends, they shared a common thread - her joy in the midst of long-endured trials. There was never a question posed about how or why she could live in joy, because she made it clear - it was because of Jesus. To be sure, she experienced times of great sadness, anguish and frustration, but it was never a match for the joy she had in the Lord. Jesus always triumphed.

While I often find myself around many professing Christians who have no problem preaching their faith to others, far less often am I around those whose living example preaches a louder message than their words. My friend was one of those. Yes, she was vocal about her faith, but the sheer impact of her life was so much louder than her words. To watch her was to bear witness to a life lived under the grace, protection and love of Jesus Christ. To hear our non-believing friends mourn her loss and describe her impact on them - and the recognized role of her faith in Jesus - illustrates to me how much more important the "how" we live is than the preaching we tend to do.

Of course, this all begs the question, "If Jesus had her back, why all the trials and tribulations?" Why should any of us suffer if we know the Maker of the Universe personally? There are many answers, and these are just five...

1. The Bible promises trials.    In John 16:33, we are told to expect them:

"In this world you will have trouble..."

It doesn't qualify that statement with how much trouble we'll experience, or that once we accept Jesus into our lives we will become immune. One thing we can be sure of: If you're not currently going through a trial, get ready - one is coming. The question is how will you handle it?

2. The Enemy is vindictive and determined.

Satan is God's enemy, therefore he is our enemy. In fact, the primary way Satan attacks God is through us. Those who profess to love Jesus are a prime target and every time you make your faith known, the bulls-eye on your back gets bigger.

Richard Baxter wrote in The Reformed Pastor, "

3. Suffering is unavoidable.

We all live in the same fallen world and are all subject to the results of sin, our own and that of others. God doesn't spare his children from all trials and tribulations. Instead, He offers us His strength to endure and the hope of His grace.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

However, while God is our strength, His strength is appropriated only through obedience. My friend was obedient, and so I believe she had God's strength in abundance.

4. Suffering is necessary.

James 1:2-4 offers one of the Christian's greatest quandaries - that we are to be joyful when we endure suffering.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." (James 1:2)

But the joy isn't because of the trials - trials aren't necessarily good in and of themselves - but rather in spite of them and because of what we gain from them. The verse goes on to say,

"...because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:3-4)

We gain maturity, wisdom, strength and perseverance in great measure through our sufferings. We are to be joyful in trials because our sufferings give us great opportunity to rely on God and to experience the full measure of His grace and the hope of Heaven.

5. Suffering is valuable.

God doesn't waste the trials of those who follow Him. Instead, He will use our sufferings for our own benefit and the benefit of others. The Bible is clear about this:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Someday, your trials, my trials, will be behind us. What will we gain from having lived through them? Will we allow them to draw us closer to Jesus or use them to build up a wall of resentment towards Him? And how will we respond in the midst of them? I know how my friend responded, and I know how she is remembered. It makes me wonder...how will I be remembered? How will you be remembered?

Ruth, Mother of Kings

written by Diana Wallis Taylor, reviewed by Susan Snow

While the book is a work of fiction, Ruth, Mother of Kings is the familiar Bible story told in the Old Testament but given more detail and personality. 

In Ruth, Mother of Kings, Ruth's story begins as her parent die. Ruth has to face being an orphan and, more than that, she has to face traveling to her grandparents' home. When she meets them for the first time, she makes up her mind to make the best of the situation saying, "This is a good place. I will like it here," while tears fall down her cheeks. 

The book  continues telling the story of Ruth's childhood, the famine in Judah, and Elimelch and Naomi arriving in Moab with many sheep, goats, and richly appointed tents. Ruth is immediately smitten by Naomi's son Mahlon during a chance encounter in the pastures as Ruth is tending her grandfather's flock. The book follows their love story and marriage, along with ten childless years.  

The author does an excellent job describing life in rural Moab. The meals and tents are described with facets that put the reader in the midst of the banquets. Most of all, Ruth is described as an ordinary woman, with ordinary plans and ordinary concerns. She loves God and lives joyfully.

Eventually Mahlon dies, as does his brother and father. Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi decides to return to Judah. Ruth gives a heart rending, "Do no entreat me to leave you, or to turn back from following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people are my people, and your God, My god. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me."

The Bible account of what happens next - the gleaning in the fields, meeting and marrying Boaz, and becoming the mother of Obed - are covered in the book with more detail, more emotion, and more sensitivity. The author ends the book with this passage, "She looked down the road, as if to see into the coming years, but then shook her head at her foolishness. All things would come in time the Almighty had set, for He alone knew the paths they would take. And Obed begat Jess; and Jesse begat David the king ..."

Bottom Line: Read Ruth, Mother of Kings and become aware that our very ordinary lives, where we may feel insignificant, are parallel to the life of Ruth.

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