February 7

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world! — John 16:33 BSB

The word “tribulation” is quite revealing. It comes from a root meaning “flail,” which is used to beat wheat sheaves, separating the golden wheat from the chaff and straw.

Tribulation is God’s flail—not to destroy us, but to separate the good, heavenly, and spiritual part of us from what is wrong, earthly, and fleshly. Nothing but the blows of pain will achieve this. The evil clings tightly to the good; the golden wheat of goodness is so entangled in the strong chaff of sin that only the heavy flail of suffering can separate them!

Suffering is like John the Baptist, with his rough garments and stern message, preparing us for Christ’s gentle coming and words of love. Many of us would never enter heaven’s gates if it weren’t for the unwelcome messenger, pain.