There was an occasion as I child that I had to go to the dentist. I say I had to go, because obviously my Mum told me I had to go and to be fair, she did come with me.
As the dental expert poked about in me mouth, I recall he did just one little poke and the pain that went shooting up and down my body forcibly arched my back as though the man had stuck a need up my rear. I was never the bravest as a child so that experience in itself left me quivering and shaking for a while afterwards. My Mum knew how to set me right, though, with the purchase of a choc-ice afterwards the pain faded away, even if the memory did not.
On another dental appointment later on, I was aware that the dental expert was going to have to do some work on my chompers. Braced with that information and further braced by the warning that the good dental technician informed me that some considerable pain might be endured, I duly had that stiffened pose. I was ready for the worst. I was prepared for him to really let me have it with the pain. Out came the needle, in went the needle into my mouth – I was ready – in went the needle briefly into my gums – I was ready – in went the liquid in my system – I was ready – out went the needle – I was ready – and the dental dude carried on. I was still waiting for that pain to hit … and it didn’t. There was pain for sure, but not as much as I was expecting and so it was kinda alright.
That has not worked out all the time, though. I’m not just referring to my dental adventures. I was informed often before by brothers and sisters in the church that there would be tough times as disciple of Jesus. In fact a lot of efforts were made to paint the picture of a rough and tough life struggling up mountains, facing persecution as a believer. Their warnings certainly gave me the impression it might be worth tensing up in preparation for some ugly pain coming up being a follower of Jesus. To be fair, some of the facial gestures I saw in gatherings at times gave me the impression that being tensed up was the natural position to follow Jesus.
The reality has been, however, that all the tensing up in the world did not prepare me for the suffering that came with being a follower of Jesus. It did not get me truly ready for those occasions of facing resistance from without and within. Although it did not prepare me, the point of following Jesus did come as very helpful when the suffering hit.
What it also did was give me a better perspective on suffering. Jesus certainly warned His followers of opposition, resistance and persecution. Yet that was couched in the context of keeping eyes focused on Him. Taking heart because of what He has done. Being encouraged because of what He is doing. Rejoicing in hope because of what we will enjoy in Him. That focus means there doesn’t have to be so much of the tensing up face.
That is even better than the choc-ice my Mum gave me all those years ago. Thank you heavenly Father.
(Photo by Raj Eiamworakul on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 