Ezekiel is a prophet known for having a lot of strange actions and experiences. But a day came, and a command from the Lord came, that made everything he had done so far pale in comparison.

Ezekiel experienced the hardest, most challenging command from the Lord in his whole life. And he did as he was commanded to do.

• Ezekiel 24:15-18 The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.

Ezekiel suffered. At the command of the Lord.

I find it quite sobering to realize that sometimes the Lord prioritizes something other than our own comfort and health and happiness. But it’s true. The Lord does allow suffering in our lives.

I’ll talk more about this in the video below.