Resolved to Suffer Well
Now, as we look ahead to 2022, let's be honest, it's not going to be a walk in the park. Every year has its own difficulties. Every year we face trials and troubles and tribulations. And Jonathan Edwards’ resolutions, I think, can help us to deal with these in a useful way.
Facing Trials
His 10th resolution said this: “I'm resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom and of hell.”
In other words, reminding himself that the pain he's going through now doesn't compare to the pain that the martyrs must have felt as they died for their faith, or to the pain which eternal separation from God must be.
Growing Through Suffering
Then I also like his resolution #67, where he said: “Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire how I'm better for them and what good I've gotten by them.” And I think that's a great practice for us.
When we go through difficult times this year, let's always consider how we might grow through them, how we might be better people for having suffered in the way that we did. Are we going to suffer and go through difficulties well?
Are we going to deal with our struggles and our hardships with grace, with gentleness, and with a sense of faith that can't be shaken? Or are we going to let them get the better of us?
Faith in Hardship
I pray, friends, that our afflictions this year will not get the better of us. But when they come, we will be able to still praise God and still thank Him, because He's going to grow us through them.
And so, resolve this year to view your difficulties through the eyes of faith. If you do that, friends, nothing—nothing, not even death itself—will be able to knock you down.
