Introduction: Benefits of Afflictions

      On December 5, 1914 a man by the name of Ernest Shackleton, born in Ireland, who later became a British resident, set off on one last exploration. Shackleton was a very strong, ambitious explorer. As he grew up through the years he had always had the Antarctic on his mind as a continent to explore. This was his last venture. As he sent out a request in the British newspaper, he said that he was seeking men to go on an expedition in the Antarctic quoting these words, "low wages, unsafe conditions and no promise of a safe return." As a result of that request in the British newspaper 5,000 men volunteered. One of the men that he chose was right in Britain, one of his closest friends, Capt. Worsley. Out of all those that volunteered he only chose 26 other scientists, officers and seamen to conduct this expedition. Sailing to an island south of the horn of South America this crew of Ernest Shackleton and 27 other men and their sled dogs arrived at the last whaling station on South Georgia Island, nearly a thousand miles from the Weddell Sea of the Antarctic. This would be their last stop to refuel and restock their supplies before setting off to the Antarctic to cross the Antarctic continent by foot. Sailing a ship named, Endurance, named after Shackleton's family motto, "By endurance we conquer..." this crew sailed south to the Weddell Sea of the Antarctic region, an area which appeared to be a large bay. Neglecting the observations and advice of the whalers of South Georgia telling Shackleton not to go at this time because of how the ice was forming more rapidly and more densely this year than in previous years, Shackleton and his crew set sail. As they reached the Weddell Sea they began to run into chunks of ice of which they had to sail through, breaking into some and weaving around other floes. The ice became so thick that the hull of the ship became a battering ram crashing through and breaking through large slabs of ice that formed and continued that drive for six long weeks. The Endurance was equipped to handle this because her hull was 4 feet thick and strong enough embrace the hardship. After six weeks of this tedious, torturous development the Endurance became stuck and frozen in ice still many miles from the coast of the Antarctic. For 326 days the Endurance was home to these men as they lived most of that time with their ship frozen in ice. With plenty of food supplies and clothing to keep warm they kept busy day after day scrubbing decks, playing football, singing songs and other activities until the ice broke up for them to carry on.

      When the ice began to melt and break up in the spring, the unexpected happened. Instead of melting around and freeing the Endurance to set sail again, the ice began and continued to crush the ship. As it became evident that there was no way to save the Endurance, Shackleton and Capt. Worsley gave the command to abandon ship. The men got their dogs, three lifeboats, their food supplies and other necessary provisions, leaving their most precious belongings behind. They took their tents and other supplies and set camp, which they called "Patience camp." For 15 long months each day seemed to turn into a week and each week seemed to turn into a month as they waited. It was reported that it got so tiring on the men that at one point someone spilled a cup of milk and started to weep. The men that were around him took their cups and filled his. Shackleton was well aware of the surrounding situation to the extent that every waking moment of his was devoted to attending the men of his crew. It was because of Shackleton's unshakable determination and drive that the men started referring to him as "the Boss." Shackleton did not show any sign of fear or uncertainty as to how to deal with the situation at hand. It was because of this leadership that Ernest Shackleton so displayed that the men put their full confidence and trust in him.

      After 15 months on this large ice flow on which they resided they finally felt a swell underneath them. The ice began to break up because of the spring weather and began to flow separately. Whether or not they would float north or south or east to west they did not know but Capt. Worsley assumed that after the 15 months of fixed residence they had drifted northwest to the last outpost stationed at the north end of the Weddell Sea. The men took their lifeboats and wading through the ocean they rowed four days until Capt. Worsley could fix their position based upon the sun. Up until that point they could not see the sun because of cloudy skies. As Capt. Worsley figured out how far they had traveled he realized that their boats had not gone forward, but because of the current they had drifted backwards 30 miles. After two long days of rowing and pushing they made it to an island called "Elephant Island" of which retained no solitude save that of a rock encrusted inlet where hordes of penguins were stationed. It was here that Shackleton rested on a gamble and sought with he, Capt. Worsley and four other men and a strengthened lifeboat to travel 800 miles east across the most uncertain and wild waters known to man to the whaling station outpost on South Georgia Island. For 16 days three men would navigate and sail while the other three men were stuck in bags deluding themselves that they were getting the proper amount of sleep they needed. After the 16^th day they saw a most glorious sight, land. Somehow Shackleton had steered them, by the help of Capt. Worsley, 800 miles to South Georgia Island. As they approached they noticed that the waters began to swell higher and as a result could not make land that evening. They had to wade the waters once again through the night. However, this night would not be spent in solitude by any means as they noticed a strong wind advancing as the night fell. They had endured one Gale as they approached "Elephant Island" but this proved not to be a gale but a full force hurricane. You may ask at this point, "How did they ever survive that hurricane?" The answer is simple, "I have no idea!!" The morning dawned and they steered into a small inlet, pulled the boat to shore and started what would be the last leg of Shackleton's journey. Shackleton, Capt. Worsley and one other began the trek across South Georgia Island. The reason this was the case was because they had gone ashore on the opposite end of the island. With wooden screws fastened to the sole of their boots and an innovative ice pick these three men journeyed over ice crevices, mountains and valleys for 36 hours until they reached the outpost from which they had started nearly a year and a half earlier. Ernest Shackleton's next endeavor was to rescue the 22 men left on Elephant Island. However, for four long months ice had blocked the way of rescue. Yet, on August 30, 1916 those left on Elephant Island saw a ship headed for them. Shackleton had finally reached them. As a few boats rowed ashore to recover the remaining men Shackleton counted the heads that were on shore. As he finished he looked behind him to Capt. Worsley and said, "They're all there, Skipper! They're all there!"

I gave this story of endurance and trust in a leader to show how afflictions can be used for the better of a man. These 28 men were afflicted many times over enduring a long wait on an ice flow, cold and hunger causing frostbite and endless nights of sleeplessness, rain that turned into sleet which beat against them as they rowed for days at a time to Elephant Island, a full force gale during a full night of intense struggle and a full force hurricane of which six men endured for an entire night. These were struggles, among many others in between, that were encountered and overcome because of sheer will and determination. But none of this would've been possible had they not seen their struggles of affliction for what they were, an opportunity to succeed. For the believer of Jesus the Christ it is imperative that he asks for wisdom and strength from the Spirit each and every day. Because when struggles arise and test our spirit we must be prepared to act appropriately. Like Shackleton and his crew, we too must push through times of difficulty. Yet, unlike those men and their expedition, the Christian has a Friend Who sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24)at all times. Not only is He with us through fire or water or whatever the present turmoil may be He has promised to help us, to strengthen us and to carry us through to the end (Isa. 43:2; 41:10; Phil. 1:6).

      Through the rest of this introduction I want to point out three truths of a person's character that allow him or her to succeed when dealing with struggles of affliction. The three truths that are seen in this true to life story of Shackleton and his Antarctic adventure can also be true in every individual follower of Christ as they endure struggles of life when afflicted. They are the perseverance of the spirit, the perspective of the obstacle endured and the deliberate attempt to find opportunities to glorify the Lord Jesus through life’s hardships. So, as I elaborate, think with me as I show you through Scripture the true benefits of the struggles that come from afflictions.

For further questions feel free to email me @ gtwis644@yahoo.com. To make sure I read your email and not delete it, thinking it’s spam, please put “Benefits of Afflictions” in the subject line.

Source:
DVD - Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, 2002: Prod. by White Mountain Films and NOVA/WBGM Boston: Dir. by George Butler