How To Suffer

How To Suffer

It never ceases to amaze me on how many sermons and Christian messages speak about positive confession, name it and claim it, prosperity, health, wealth, victory and blessing.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for much of those and would love to see more, but what about ‘suffering’? Seems no one is too eager to speak about suffering and if they do, it’s usually in the context that God doesn’t want us to suffer and that everything should be the above mentioned ‘wish list’.

When I read my Bible, I see a much different picture. Again, don’t misunderstand me; God does not ‘enjoy’ when we suffer and ‘does’ want us to be over comers and victorious, BUT,,,that’s not all we have been called to be as Christians.

As a Christian, you are called to be ‘LIKE’ Christ, in ‘EVERYTHING’! Christ suffered and so we too, have been called to suffer as well.

I know this is not a pleasant thing because suffering is so..so..painful!

Although God did not produce suffering (sin did), God allows and uses suffering to accomplish His purposes and one of those purposes is make you ‘like’ Christ.

Suffering goes way back to Adam and Eve when, because of their sin and rebellion, mankind reaped what it had sown. Suffering is to be human! Teaching out of suffering is God.

“And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.”

Deuteronomy 8:2-4

“To humble, to test, to know” These are some of the lessons God taught the Israelites through suffering in the wilderness.

In a Christian context, the Earth is the Wilderness. Just as our forefathers, we too are roaming through a vast wilderness on our journey to our Promised Land; Heaven!

Our suffering accomplishes the same things it did then. We are being humbled and tested and discovering what is in our hearts in regard to ourselves and love and obedience towards God.

Jesus did not come to remove suffering, for it was He who said:

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

The Apostle Paul, who was no stranger to suffering wrote in Philippians that we are to ‘suffer for His sake’. He points out that Jesus became a servant and humbled Himself obediently, even to the point of death and we are to do likewise.

We are told to do all things without complaining and put no confidence in ourselves so that we may be lights to a crooked generation.

Remember when Jesus said “what good is it to return good for good? Even the sinners do that”? Likewise, when we suffer without complaint and trust God regardless of what we are going through, the world around us sits up and takes notice!

Paul goes on to say that we should ‘forget those things which are behind us and reach forward to the things which lie ahead.’ We are not to be like those who are lost and blinded and only have their minds on earthly things.

“Therefore let us, as many are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, ‘God will reveal even this to you’.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Knowing; ‘you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.’

Philippians 3:15, 4:6,7, 13

I know you don’t want to hear that it is your destiny to suffer, if we keep this in mind, we may bear it more effectively. We will also learn to not hold on so tightly to the things of this world and put God and things above all.

It’s not just about “Waiting For Your Boaz’, it’s about growing up in Christ. God loves you and wants the Best for you; as do I. Knowledge is power and there is power in God, so learn Him well.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet 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 and complete, lacking in nothing.

1 Peter 4:12-19 & James 1:2-4

God Bless