I recently listened to this interview with Naghmeh Abedini, wife of Iranian-American pastor Saeed Abedini who is serving an eight-year prison sentence for his faith. I was touched by his answer to the “why” question in regards to suffering.
There is no way to compare my “suffering” or trials with what this family has gone through, but the answer to my “why” questions is the same. The answer is “Who” – Who is in control.
The answer to the "why" is "Who." Who is in control? The Lord Jesus Christ is in control. I desire for you to learn important lessons during these trying times, lessons that you carry now for the rest of your life. The answer to the "why" is "Who." The confusion of "why has all of this happened," and why your prayers are not answered is resolved with understanding Who is in control—the Lord Jesus Christ, our God.
God is in control of that whole world and everything that is happening in it, for His good purpose, for His glory, and will be worked out for our good (Romans 8:28). Jesus allows me to be kept here for His glory. He's doing something inside each of us and also outside in the world.
--Saeed Abedini, in a letter to his daughter for her 8th birthday
I have recently asked a lot of “why” questions. Why deputation? Why does it take so long? Why did we wait to start until we had four children? Why isn’t there another way? Why twins? Why is child training so difficult?
The answer is “Who.” Who is in control? The Lord. He has designed this process for me and my family, at this time. He has designed it to mold us more into the image of Christ. He has designed it to make us more of a testimony of the Gospel and it’s power to change lives. He has designed it to teach us to rely on Him for everything, even our “daily bread.” He has designed it to give us more ministry experience and to let us see other churches in operation and to hear stories of successful church plants so that when we go to the Bronx we are armed with lessons learned from the experience of others.
The answer to “why” is “Who.” That’s a powerful thought that can realign my focus to where it needs to be – on Christ.
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