Experimental Suffering

Each year during the Lent season, like many people I opt to “sacrifice” something during the weeks leading up to Easter. Realistically, I know there is nothing I could ever sacrifice that would repay Christ for what He’s done for me – yet I have a strong desire to test the limits of my flesh and “sacrifice” during Lent just the same.

This year I asked God to reveal to me some of the things that control me – things I think I can’t live without that would be beneficial to sacrifice for Lent. The word sacrifice by its very definition means to offer something precious. My list was surprisingly long and eye-opening. This list prompted me to “experiment” to see just how serious I was about the whole “sacrifice” concept when it came to offering up what is precious to me.

Rather than give up one thing that might hurt me a little bit for the duration of the season (like Diet Soda or sugar, as in years past) I wanted to give God my very best this year and sacrifice thing(s) that would truly cost me.

There’s a story in 2 Samuel about King David wanting to make an offering to the Lord after he sinned by taking a census. He wanted to buy a threshing floor from Araunah to build an altar and make the sacrifice. Araunah offered to give David the property free of charge, but David refused saying, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24 NLT)

Like David, I didn’t want to offer Lent sacrifices that would cost me nothing. I wanted to offer sacrifices I believe would cost me dearly.

In the last few weeks I’ve given up days of television, Facebook, my computer and the internet. I have fasted all my food for several days; I’ve given up sugar, chocolate, caffeine and even fasted from speaking for one whole day offering the words of my mouth to God. (A day of total silence is not nearly as easy as one would think.)

The more things I surrendered, the more insights God revealed to me. I’ve learned I’m addicted to convenience and control (amongst other things). As much as I might pay it lip service – when it comes right down to it – I didn’t think “sacrifice” would be quite so hard! However, the more difficult my sacrifice, the more I appreciated Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary.

As this Holy week draws to a close and Resurrection Sunday looms just around the corner, my son suggested I set aside one final day to combine everything I’ve sacrificed over the past few weeks into one day of total sacrifice. That would mean an entire day of silence, no computer or Facebook; no food, no caffeine, no negative thoughts, no television and no internet.

If I were being honest, my first thought (and every thought thereafter) was “That would be too hard!”

Jesus was God in the flesh and Scripture tells us that He asked God to take the cup of suffering from Him. He was a man who most surely felt fear and panic and must have thought at least once, “This is just too hard,” yet He still died for us.

My Lent “experiment” has been about pushing myself, denying my flesh and drawing closer to God by eliminating those things in my life which hold me prisoner. I read recently, “There is seldom change without pain; the greater the pain, the greater the change.”

My “pain” of living without caffeine and Facebook and all the rest of my bondages has changed me, to be sure. There is however, no denying that the pain Christ suffered for me – and for you – has produced the greatest change of all. Even though what He suffered was hard, His great pain promises those that accept Him as Lord, eternal life. His pain is our gain. It is finished and He is risen!

Blessings in Christ,
Kathy K.