SUFFERING

Nobody I know likes suffering, whether it is physical, mental or spiritual.

Nobody I know enjoys suffering nor takes great delight in suffering. Nobody!

But suffering is real. Pervasive. And we cannot escape it! We see it everywhere!

And because it is so prevalent, it is good to remember that:

 

1.    God uses suffering for our good and His glory. Romans 8:28 “and we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God and who are the called according to His purpose.” God doesn’t say that our pain is good but He uses pain to work for our good in His miraculous and mysterious way.

2.    God uses suffering to mature us in Christ. James 1:2-3 declares that we should “count it all joy, my brothers, when you falls into trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking in nothing.”

3.    Suffering allows us to comfort others who may be going through similar circumstances. You can be an encourager and a supporter of someone who faces something similar. My wife, Linda, is a cancer survivor. Having gone through the experience she is able to encourage others who may be facing similar challenges. II Corinthians 1:3-4 says “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

 

Remember that as you battle and face suffering in your life!

It will make you stronger!