Acts 21 - 22:29: Walking into Suffering

Much of these later chapters in Acts involve Paul traveling from place to place, sharing about the resurrection of Jesus and proclaiming Him as the Messiah, being threatened or beaten by the Jews who oppose his message, giving his defense before some council,  sharing the story of his conversion, being imprisoned and then being somehow released, often miraculously. And then he continues his journey to a new place where the same things happen again.

It is easy to see Paul's boldness, his absolute resolution to continue on in the mission of proclaiming the truth of Jesus and his willingness to embrace whatever suffering may come.

Today, we read of a particularly powerful moment of resolve and commitment to the cause of Christ, no matter the cost.  In Acts 21, Paul and those traveling with him end up in Caesarea at the home of Philip, the evangelist.  While there, a prophet named Agabus comes and does something that I'm sure caught everybody off guard.  Except Paul, who seemed completely unfazed by what happened.

And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says:  'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' " Acts 21:11

Understandably, the believers who were with Paul tried to dissuade him from gong to Jerusalem. Actually, they begged him not to go.  I'm sure most of us would do the same.  Because logically, it does not make sense to walk into a place of guaranteed suffering.

But God's ways don't always align with our logic.  He never promises to operate according to our understanding.  Actually, He tells us that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).   And He asks us to trust Him because He is always good and always has our best and His glory in mind.

Thankfully, Paul understood this.  He completely trusted God and was wholeheartedly committed to obeying Him even when he knew that it would lead to suffering.   He responds:

What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?  For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21:13

Trust.  Resolve.  Love.  Obedience.  Eternal perspective.  Those are just some of the words that come to mind when I think about Paul's response.

Powerful.  But we also can't miss how his friends respond to his courageous declaration.

And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, "The will of the Lord be done!"  Acts 21:14

The will of the Lord be done.  This implies that maybe it was actually God's will for Paul to go to Jerusalem where he was guaranteed to face suffering.  So could it be that we are not always to run from suffering, but to walk into it with trust and confidence if that is indeed where God is leading us?  Could it be that suffering is actually God's will for us sometimes?  Could it be that He uses suffering for our good and for His glory?  What about Paul? Joseph? Job? Jesus?    If the greatest act of love and grace came through the suffering of God's own son, how can we assume that we should be shielded from suffering?

Hard questions, I know.  But so worth seeking out God's heart in this area and pressing into what the Word says about suffering.  I also highly recommend the book Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller.  This book was instrumental for us in our own experience of suffering.

When it comes to understanding suffering, we will never have all the answers.  We will never be able to fully comprehend God's ways.  But we do have truth to stand on and promises to cling to and ultimately, we can put all of our trust in our God who is relentless in His love for us, who never leaves us or forsakes us, and who works everything for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.