The other day, I was riding in the car with my aunt and seven-year-old cousin. Somehow, the topic of non-poisonous snakes came up, and my cousin began to explain why they didn't scare her. Since I knew that she was terrified of snakes, I really questioned her about this line of reasoning. In the most informed seven-year-old voice that I have ever heard, she said that the difference was that non-poisonous snakes hurt you but the don't harm you.
Later, when thinking through this relatively insightful phrase, the good ole Jeremiah 29:11 popped in my head. " 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to help you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.' " Now, I know I'm really delving into semantics, here, but the difference in hurt and harm really struck me.
God has never promised that following Him will never hurt. In fact, Jesus makes it a point to pretty much guarantee that we won't be liked [John 15:18-19]. However, one theme that we do see is that the hurt we face is not purposeless. It is to make us more faithful, more loving, more enduring, more like Christ Himself. It is a fire, which refines us all in the end. As unpleasant as it may be, it would be idiotic to trade any of these times for simple comfort.
So, what God promises in Jeremiah, still holds firm for us, today. God is not vindictive nor does He lack control over our circumstances. Like any good father, he knows what is for our ultimate good, though, and will not settle for less for His children. That is so awesome! As Peter writes [2 Peter 4:12], we've got to trust that God is really good and really does know what He is doing.
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." -Romans 5:3-4
