04/22/2020
We all suffer in our lives. When we become believers in the one true God, and Jesus Christ, life’s suffering does not end, but the manner in which we suffer does. As Christians we are no longer meant to suffer in sin, but we will suffer because of it, and even in the process of doing God’s will. When we are going about our life as believers, doing the will of God, we will meet hardships and suffer calamity along the way, but we have a faithful God in whom we can place our trust, and turn to for help. He will not let our souls slip into sinfulness, but will strengthen us against it. Are you facing hardship? Well, lean on Him, and stay the course of righteousness. Do His will.
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”
1 Peter 4:19 ESV
We are all tempted during our times of pain and suffering to wonder why a good and all powerful God would allow us to face such things. We read stories about a sinful and horrid person killing someone innocent, and ask God why. We face disease, and starvation, and ask why He would allow such suffering to occur. David asked how long he would suffer as God remained silent...
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?”
Psalm 13:1-2 ESV
And, Jesus asked a similar question from the cross...
“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?””
Mark 15:34 ESV
So it is natural that we too would have the same feelings, and ask the same question. But our question, like theirs, never receives an immediate answer. Our “Why” is met with the same silence as theirs. Our quest for understanding, like theirs, is one of lifelong exploration, and we must find our own personal answer through our intimate journey of faith.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”
Philippians 2:12 ESV
Although we continue to seek out God’s answer to this question, and turn to the Holy Spirit to gain understanding to the satisfaction of our own faith, we do know that suffering is a worldly truth, and as we are faced with its tribulation we will find relief in Jesus.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 KJV
Although we spend our lifetime on such questions as this, we do get glimmers of understanding in scripture that lead us like breadcrumbs through the forest. We know that sin brings suffering...
“if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you.”
Leviticus 26:15-17 ESV
We know that we incur sufferIng as an agent of spiritual change...
“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.””
Luke 13:4-5 ESV
We know that God uses suffering to reveal His grace...
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 ESV
There are many such breadcrumbs throughout the Bible, and they each lead us a bit further down the path of our understanding as to why good people, including ourselves, are allowed to suffer. We can always depend on glimpses into the nature of the Lord To give us understanding, like God is not frivolous, He doesn’t tempt us, He is good, He loves us, and other such characteristics of His that lead us to understand that there is a reason for our suffering, and it is greater that ourselves; just as it was greater than Jesus.
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
Luke 9:23-24 ESV
So, we all suffer, but as Christians we are meant to suffer according to God’s will, and although we face this mystery with many questions, we are meant to continue on in our faith, bearIng fruit as we obey His will. We should be confident that as we move through our lives, picking up a breadcrumb of knowledge here, and there, we will continue to grow in our understanding of this mystery, and become more confident that our suffering increases our perseverance, and faith, with each passing tribulation.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Romans 8:18 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for walking us through the mystery of our suffering, and for giving us bits and pieces of understanding so that we will know you better each day. Thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who not only died for us, so that we might be saved from sin and death, but showed us how to face suffering while lovingly remaining within your will. Help us Father as we each pick up our cross, and follow after Jesus; being obedient to your will, and confident in your goodness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose ways are far above ours, and whose mysteries are profound. Praised be your name as we find your love, goodness, and mercy, in every hardship we face, and in every calamity we witness. Great are you our Father who leads us through the snares of Satan, and keeps our feet from slipping from the way of righteousness. Hear our prayers Lord, and stand by us in our suffering, lead us through every trial we encounter, reaping your glory from each victory. We worship you Father, and praise you faithfully from within every storm we find ourselves in. See us Lord as we walk through our trials, and sing of your goodness as we go.
“And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:27-28 ESV
Rich Forbes