In All Their Tribulation There Was No Tribulation

In All Their Tribulation There Was No Tribulation

This is impossible to understand without revelation. However, it becomes very easy to understand if we have a tiny bit of simple revelation. By comparing this word with an expression in Matthew 18:4, we have an immediate solution: “He who makes himself little.”2

In other words, there is something that is called “making yourself little.” This is actually possible.

If someone who is in a small space makes himself little, he will of course gain more room. Then it will be as David sings in Psalm 18:36, “You enlarged my path under me.” This, of course, is the opposite of tribulation.

Let us assume that two brothers are in exactly the same situation, in the same tribulation, with every possible thing taken into consideration. One of them argues with God and man. He cannot comprehend why he should be in such circumstances. He is in great tribulation and is in a very bad way. The other one makes himself little, renouncing all possible demands and claims, acknowledging that everything is far too good for him, that he is only saved by grace, and that God is continuing to work with him for his further salvation. Yes, it is pure grace that he is even allowed to live. By reacting in this way, he is not aware of any tribulation in the midst of all his tribulation!

When we read that we shall make ourselves little, what is it that can be made smaller? All demands and claims: for example, concerning food and drink, accommodation, treatment, recognition, and every possible thing that pertains to our own honor, position, respect, and consideration in any way at all, as well as all plans and human hopes and expectations of getting your own will through.

Disappointment is a kind of tribulation. However, if we do not have any expectations at all concerning earthly things—concerning anything at all outside of Christ—then we have cut off the possibility of being disappointed.

If I do not make any demands on anyone for anything at all, I avoid all the tribulations, adversities, irritations, pains and torments that arise because my demands are not met. This cannot possibly be contradicted in any way.

Therefore, blessed is everyone who makes himself little, who reduces himself by reducing and denying his own will, his own plans and demands, etc. Yes, every soul who does this is both wise and constantly blessed on all his ways.

Without contradiction, it has to be like this: The greater I am in my own eyes, the more tribulations and adversities, the more and greater the obstacles, the more I will be disappointed, and the more people and things stand in my way! Therefore if someone is suffering from delusions of grandeur, he is truly suffering under a great delusion.

A person’s ability to understand is then totally upside-down. Such a person does not view a matter in any other way than that the different circumstances and all kinds of people make life hard and miserable for him. However, the truth is that he is far too important in his own eyes. This is the very reason he is in all these unnecessary tribulations, pains, and torments, all these unnecessary disappointments and bitter sorrows.

If we had the attitude of “Tom Thumb,” about whom I read in a reader when I went to school, it would be difficult even to be aware of any tribulation. Someone called to Tom Thumb, “Where are you?” “Peep, peep, here I am!” replied Tom Thumb, and there he sat in the nostril of a horse.

Or better still, as we read in a song by Ragnhild Backe, “Seek no honor, reputation . . . .” What happens then to tribulations, defamation of character, and lack of recognition?

Our citizenship is in heaven. You do not think you have a right to make demands or to say anything in any place other than where you have your citizenship, do you?

The wretched problem is only that many people think they have these rights because they read God’s Word so superficially instead of taking it seriously. They do not take it to heart. Thus it cannot possibly have a powerful and marvelous effect.

The most effective truth of all truths is this: The sting (reward, punishment) of sin is death. We have all sinned and should therefore actually be dead. Our body should really be six feet underground. We are saved by grace, and we continue to be saved by grace! Grace upon grace! It is pure grace that we are allowed to live at all from one moment to the next. We are so infinitely far from having the right to make any demands at all in any imaginable way!

Generally speaking, people are in pitch-black darkness, coming with all their insatiable demands and rights, plans and expectations, thinking they are quite “reasonable,” too, in their claims for their honor, well-being, treatment, consideration, and so on.

Because our body should really be six feet underground, we should not even speak about it or think that we in any way have received too little or that what we did receive was too bad. On the contrary! All the good we receive for our spirit and body is just that much too much!

When our eyes are truly opened to this, then our tone will have a different ring, an utterly pleasant and glorified ring! Glory to God! Then all discord will disappear as if by magic, and will be replaced by humility, meekness, thankfulness and contentment, praise, and worship. Then we are pleasing to both God and man. Let it be so!

Then, as far as that goes, one could gladly and quite naturally reply firmly to the apology that what was served was not good enough: Not at all, on the contrary!

Instead of disappointments, anger, dissatisfaction, demands, and bitterness, one would receive a life full of happy surprises (because one does not expect anything good, far less demand it), filled with undeserved grace and goodness. Then it is precious to live in the midst of this evil and small world. Glory to God!