We have had occasion to discuss today's devotional a couple times in recent months, so this title may sound familiar... or, it may actually confuse you, too. Letting others suffer seems SO contrary to the message of Jesus, the compassion He has instilled in our hearts, and the reward of hope we have realized... but this is actually one of the underlying messages God conveys to us. Letting others suffer gives God an opportunity to commune directly with them.
As an example, Jacob loved his son Joseph so much more than Josephs siblings, that envy & strife grew among the children. Genesis 37:3-4 explains; "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. (4) And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him." Oh, we mean well when we protect our loved ones, we may even feel/think it is our core calling. But unwittingly, we may actually be protecting them from God Himself! Sure, seems unlikely, but consider this... When YOU suffer, you turn to the Lord for guidance, strength, hope. If someone loved you 'so much' that they protected YOU from the suffering, you may not have turned to the Lord, you may not have reached that 'I cannot do this alone' realization, and worse... you may not have grown to trust the Lord more. All because someone did not let you suffer. Remember, Ephesians 3:20 admonishes us with; "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us", which is to say if/when anyone suffers, God can/will provide comfort to them, can/will provide nurturing for them, can/will provide His leading in their life. It is SO tough knowing when to allow God to have His way, and not get in His way... so tough. But that's when we must settle our hearts, settle our worrying and fear, settle our controlling spirit and rest in the Lord's desire to have His will in their lives. Exodus 33:14 states; "And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." Be ready to help those around you, be ready to be used of the Lord, but just be careful to Let Them Suffer, and let God have a direct relationship with them, too.