To Be or Not To Be

“To be or not to be, that is a question”

This is a very well-known phrase from the legendary drama play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare. This sentence is very popular, but not many people know what it means or for what that sentence are intended.  If we read the script or seen the drama on stage or in the movie, we would know that the phrase was uttered by the main character, a prince named Hamlet. This sentence appeared when he felt a tremendous pain when his uncle killed his father and married his mother. It is painful for Hamlet, so he had thought he should continue to live (“to be”) or just end his life, (“or not to be”).

In the world today, sometimes in life we pain so badly and we began to feel despair and lose of hope, even the fact is there are many people who choose such as Hamlet, which thinking to ended his life because no longer endure to suffer.

What about us as sons of God?  Lets we take a look to Paul in the Holy Bible. As we know Paul is a militant in his duty to proclaim the Gospel. At one time he was experiencing very hard pressure. He found a threat everywhere; He suffered, was arrested, and threatened with death. Paul detailing his suffering in ministry in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27:  “Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”

As a human being at one time Paul felt weak and he admitted it to the congregation in Corinthian. “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1: 8-9)

But the very interesting thing is he does not let himself be controlled by despair and loss of hope continually. Paul quickly change his focus, He returned to the positive thoughts that holding completely to God. Paul was able to seeing the other side of a suffering, that is, as a lesson that we should not rely on ourselves but rather to God. “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”(Verse 9)

Paul’s suffering is not easy. Imagine, when he was wicked he is so powerful, but after repenting his life filled with many pressure. He knew that what lay ahead is much greater than the sufferings that he experienced in this temporary world, Paul directs his eyes far ahead, and at the same time he continued to holding with full trust in Christ. Even he said:  “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Suffering is painful, and sometimes when it was so heavy, we felt could no longer to bear it. But as happened to Paul, God really has given His grace is sufficient, which will enable us to survive when we are walking through the valley of suffering. Let’s we ponder this verse: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Actually in the thick of the pressure we can actually see the power of God is perfect. In our weakness will be able to witness the true power of God, which is capable of overturning all human logic.

Well my dear friend, once again what about us? Whether we want to have thought like Hamlet? Or like Paul we continue to rely on God, change our view with a new perspective, and keep put our faith in God? Paul is not a God. He was used by God to proclaim the gospel. He’s just like us who have weaknesses but Paul can endure in all suffering because he always leans back and hold on to the God’s word.

As long as we walk in this world, suffering will come to us at a time. But we must know that God will enable us to bear and the way out of God’s in time will be come upon us. If Hamlet thought “to be or not to be”, continue to live or die, we as children of God shall be aware that there is always a reason to keep alive. So, “to be” it is. There are always more than enough reasons to choose “to be”, millions of them, in the name of God. Amen

There is always hope in the darkness if we walk with the Lord

Karina

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