Throughნიმუში

Pierre Bezukhov, the central figure around whom much of Tolstoy’s monumental work War and Peace revolves, knows suffering. The illegitimate son of a prominent Count, Bezukhov inherits a fortune when his father dies. His sudden rise to prominence sets in motion a series of events which rise and fall throughout the novel: an unhappy marriage, deep disquiet at the plight of the poorer classes, exposure to the horrors of war, imprisonment, the realisation that true peace is to be found in simplicity, and finally a second marriage which brings him contentment.

Bezukhov’s search for meaning and purpose in life is one to which we can all relate. This extract comes late in the novel, after the sweeping events which have brought him deeper insight and also an inner peace:

“They say: sufferings are misfortunes,” said Pierre. “But if at once this minute, I was asked, would I remain what I was before I was taken prisoner, or go through it all again, I should say, for God's sake, let me rather be a prisoner and eat horseflesh again. We imagine that as soon as we are torn out of our habitual path, all is over, but it is only the beginning of something new and good. As long as there is life, there is happiness. There is a great deal, a great deal before us.”

This penetrating insight looks beyond all the pain he’s suffered. It sees the muck and messiness of human existence, the hurt we inflict on others, and the daily struggles of ordinary life. But it also sees that beyond the suffering, which some call misfortune, there’s hope. As we move through the troubles of our lives, the potential for change arrives in their wake. We’re given new eyes with which to see the world. The furnace really does bring forth a new creation. As Job says: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

There will come a time, though it might seem distant right now, that we, too, will move beyond our wilderness experience. Although presently all might appear bleak and we may struggle to see any hope, we’re to keep our eyes on the one who is already waiting for us in the light. We must take it one day at a time. We should allow God to have his way with us, moulding us and shaping us into the person he’s always known us to be.

But what of the day when we finally feel the fog lift? When we sense a shift in our life towards rest, peace, and a deeper contentment in God. What then?

Firstly, we shouldn’t be afraid to move from the wilderness along the road which opens up before us. This might seem a silly thing to say. After all, who wouldn’t want to leave the harshness of a wilderness experience? However, there’s an underlying truth to this paradox, and we might know the feeling if we’ve been there. Many people, especially those who have fallen completely into God’s arms and who have learned to trust all to him, might find leaving the wilderness a lonely and even threatening process. Will we ever know God’s presence as intimately as we have in the hard times, we may ask? Will we ever again be given such insight into ourselves, into others, and most importantly into the very nature of God?

Once we had moved beyond the fear, doubt, and anxiety which the wilderness brought, and learned to walk each day in faith, God’s presence would have become very precious to us. We might well be concerned that we’ll be losing something of that closeness as we move away from the wilderness. But we can learn from people in the Bible, specifically Joseph, David, and Peter. All three of these men knew God intimately, but all struggled with times of despair and darkness. They were imprisoned, hated, hunted – and then also delivered from their hardships. Beyond their deliverance, they became living testimonies of God’s goodness. They continued to seek his face, they continued to call on him and to honour him in their lives. We’d do well to follow their example.

So be prepared for the day when you know that by God’s grace, your time in the wasteland is coming to an end. When you sense the joy which is promised to you coming in the morning. Don’t look back but step out with confidence into a new, deeper relationship with God and with those around you. Continue to speak with him and to share your thoughts, your dreams, and your anxieties. Know that he’ll be as close to you as he was every second of your time in the wilderness. He goes before you and is already making your path straight.

The second thing to remember as we move from our time in the wilderness is that there are many others around us who are in their own bleak places. Hopefully, our own sensitivities have been heightened, and our awareness of the pain of others sharpened. Now we have a unique opportunity to share their load, listening and loving them, just as others listened and loved us through our challenges. We read: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

These two verses are unambiguous. We’re comforted “so that” we can comfort others. But we need to do so with sensitivity, realising that it’s not about us as individuals, but rather because we’re part of a community of God’s people. We should be careful not just to rely on a retelling of our own wilderness experiences but rather to listen to theirs. We must remember what others did for us – which suggestions and encouragement helped and which didn’t. Each person and each relationship is different, and they need to be comforted uniquely, so we should allow the Spirit to guide us as he uses us to bring comfort in a way which is particular to that person.

A few thoughts to ponder:

• Have you had some precious moments while going through your wilderness experience that you have felt incredibly close to God? How might you intentionally remind yourself of these in the future?
• Having experienced your own pain, how might you have the sensitivity to comfort others in the future, as they go through their own wilderness experiences?