Suffering

Learning to suffer and not faint or give up the faith is what we are called to do.  I have heard some preaching on suffering well lately and it seemed to be contradictory to what I have been taught over the years.  Usually you learn that you should not suffer as a believer when that may be just what you are called to do.  Dr. Dobson wrote a book a while ago called, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense,” but if you are a believer you know that God always makes sense, we just don’t understand Him and His ways at times and we seem to never understand suffering.

My Dad always had a problem with why God allowed young kids to suffer and because of it, as far as I know, he never made a commitment to follow Him.  We live in a fallen world with imperfect people and imperfect conditions.  If you think about it, most of what we suffer we bring on ourselves because of our actions and the choices we made through the years.  

God’s Word says that we will reap what we sow and it is true, but how many really believe that?  If someone kills someone and gets caught they may get the electric chair or spend the rest of their life in prison.  They may find the Lord while there and be forgiven of their sins but they may still die or be confined all their life as a result of their bad choices but God may use them in a mighty way while they are there.

If you think about Joseph and what he suffered from his brothers and how he was lied about and thrown into prison after being sold into slavery and the time he spent in prison, what do you think he was thinking?  Do you think he might have questioned God, wondering why all these things were happening to him? 

What about Job?  Out of nowhere he was dealt a blow that would have destroyed most people, losing almost everything he had, completely blindsided like being sucker punched.  He had good reason to get angry at God and give up and throw in the towel, but in all of it he didn’t even sin by blaming God even when he couldn’t understand it all.

Jesus said this in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

God has everything under control, no matter what it seems like, regardless of the influence the evil one has on our society and how contrary many people are to the gospel and the tensions we may face because of it.  Jesus overcame through the cross and because of our relationship to Him He will help us to overcome also, even if we do have to suffer in the process, praise the Lord!!    

If you are a believer you shouldn’t be surprised when you suffer, it will happen.  The question is how will you suffer?  It says this in James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

The word temptation here means trials or testing.  How many of us live this way?  How many rejoice in suffering through trials and testing?  James says we should count it all joy.  

I knew a man who was dying of cancer and people kept praying for his healing.  This man was a strong believer and a very nice committed person and he wasn’t that old.  While everyone wanted him healed, he wanted to go home to be with his Lord.  His way of looking at suffering and dying was much different than many believers, he was ready to go and not long after I talked to him he went to be with his Savior.

Let’s face it, bad things happen to good people and that is just reality.  But all of us need to learn to suffer well or when it happens we may get angry and blame God and end up bitter and very discouraged, maybe to the point of giving up.  Read what it says in 1 Peter 4:12-16, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”  (Matthew 5:11)  We can be sure if we suffer for the Lord, He will be with us.  I have given you something important to think about and I hope it will help you in your Christian walk.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!