Life is tough. The frustrations, anxieties, and roadblocks are always threatening to overwhelm. There have been many books written on the purpose of suffering in the lives of believers, so I don't propose to add to that body of knowledge. But over the last few years as I have wrestled with the sufferings I have been dealt, I have found Deuteronomy 8:3 enlightening and encouraging. God's word has become more treasured in my life, full of truths that fill the hunger in my soul. My sufferings have driven me to His word to answer my questions about “why?” and “for what purpose?” Deuteronomy 8:3 may be Moses summarizing Israel's forty years in the desert, but it also summarizes the last year of my life.
1. To humble me – I have no definitive answers, no “end in sight” for my struggles. As far as I can tell, they will always be part of this life. So I can't walk around in pride, touting “Here is how I fixed this! Be like me!” God is so kind and gracious as He gently chips away at my pride.
2. Letting me grow hungry – Being needy doesn't feel good. Nor is it culturally acceptable. But isn't this the heart condition of us all? We are all seeking to satisfy our hunger, and we gorge on all the world has to offer, trying to distract ourselves from the ache. As my struggles continue and my hunger grows, I am forced to ask, “What am I truly hungry for?”
3. I live by every word – This is the best part! God in His graciousness reveals my need for His word to me and fulfills that hunger by providing my manna, my daily bread, in Himself and His word. I am not naive enough to say that I can find black and white answers for all of life's questions. But I will unequivocally state that God continues to satisfy me with His word like I never dreamed.
There are so many precious promises that get me out of bed in the morning. In them I find my hope, my admonition, and my encouragement. But more so, I find the Word Himself; the One who speaks to the hunger in my soul and fills it with Himself. Studying His word has become the highlight of my day, and it is what truly gets me through the worst moments. It has become so much more than a manual of Christian life. It is the very conduit of hearing God's heartbeat for His beloved. How awesome is our God who would make Himself known to us!
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