Deformed Foot Straightened by Long-term Painful Pressure
In Paul’s life he did face suffering for Christ - Colossians 1:24: "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the Church."
None of us like to suffer. Chances are none of us will ask the Lord to grant us suffering.
A Story is told about a boy with a badly deformed foot. When he was 8, he was operated on twice to try and straighten the foot, but to no avail. The doctor said his foot would never be straight. The family searched for another doctor and finally found one that believed he could correct the foot. He performed surgery on the little boy and after surgery put the boy’s foot into a strange looking box. The box had adjustable screws that pressed against the foot. For months the boy’s foot was kept in the box and the screws were adjusted each day. The pain and suffering were almost unbearable for the little boy and he begged his dad to take off the box. The father, mingling his tears with his son’s, would just tighten the screws tighter while the child screamed in pain. Finally the day came when the box was removed. The boy stood up for the first time in his life and he stood with a straight foot.
The suffering in the Christian life can hurt badly. We may get to the point where we want God to loosen the screws and take off the box. It is in these times when God will continue to tighten the screws. Why because He wants us to become what He knows we can be for Him!
Paul says in Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
From a sermon by Kevin L. Jones, The Things That Matter Most, 3/4/2010