The Nearness of God

Imagine having a degenerative nerve disease that causes chronic pain and burning in your arms, and renders you so weak you can’t button your own shirt.  That’s the predicament of Dave Furman, pastor of Redeemer Church of Dubai and author of the new book, Kiss the Wave:  Embracing God in Your Trials.

“Kiss the wave”?  The title comes from Charles Spurgeon, the 19th century English preacher who suffered intensely from rheumatism, gout, kidney problems, and depression:  “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”  In other words, he refused to assume his pain was pointless or, even worse, intended for harm.  Rather, he embraced the message of Joseph who looked back on years of unjust suffering and then told his brutal brothers, As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today (Genesis 50:20).

Yes, God meant it for good.  Romans 8:28 isn’t some platitude—it’s precious, hope-giving truth:  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Like the Apostle Paul, Dave Furman has pleaded with God to take his ailment away, and he’s received the same good, wise response from Above:  My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We do well to listen to our brothers and sisters who’ve trusted Jesus in the desert when we feel like saying, “I object,” or insisting, “I deserve better.”  Perhaps we’re even so brazen as to find fault with God!  Better to slow down, confess our pride, and let Dave Furman point us to Psalm 46, God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Turn TO God in the storm, not away!  He comforts us in our afflictions so we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3).

Furman’s message is this:  God takes good care of his children, and he does this be being present with us through suffering and by protect­ing us from eternal danger.  When we make idols out of comfort, security, and significance, God lovingly uses affliction to bring our sin to light.  And this is good—give thanks for the Father’s grace!