Suffering is a topic that we’d rather not talk about. Who wants to experience suffering? It is an uncomfortable topic, but it is one that I want to address because whether we want to accept it or admit it, at one point or another it is a portion of our walk in Christ…
It is a mistake and a misconception to believe that once you choose to accept Jesus as your Savior, make Him Lord over your life that everything will be “hunky dory” or that we will skip off into the sunset of our lives with nothing bad ever touching us. I wish that was the case… But Jesus even said in John 16:33:
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.”
I pray you will listen to these words and that this post will encourage you and NOT discourage you!
OUR PEACE – THE PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING – IS FOUND IN CHRIST!
This post is hard for me to write, because my heart hurts for all who are suffering right now… I know what it is like to suffer. Jesus paid the price for us, NO ONE has suffered like Jesus. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:14:
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ”
2 Timothy 3:12-15 tells us:
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Here is something to remember, we are in a spiritual war. It is happening ALL around us. You are a soldier for Christ! Hold tight to the fact that although this battle rages ALL around us, the victory has ALREADY been won BY Jesus. He defeated the devil through His death on the cross! He purchased redemption for us, He ROSE from the dead, defeating death and sin! He redeemed us! So we can take comfort that GOD IS WITH US! That He is an EVER PRESENT help in time of trouble! That Jesus said that He would NEVER leave nor forsake us! We can endure because of our faith in Him! 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
The other thing I want to mention, is that if you are going through a period of suffering in your walk right now, please don’t try to “suffer” alone. First of all, you are NOT alone! God is with you! Isaiah 43:2 says:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Jesus said in Matthew 28:20:
” “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” “
Please remember that not only (and most importantly) is God with you, but you are a member of the body of Christ! There are no words to express how important it is to connect with a local church, where you will meet other members in the body! There is nothing like having a prayer partner (or prayer group) who can lift you up! (Or that you can lift up in prayer!)
When I reflect upon my 34 years in Christ, I can tell you – that I am no stranger to suffering. Suffering at different points in my walk for my faith in Christ… Persecution from those I love who are unsaved for my faith in Christ, mocked for my faith in Christ, ridiculed for my faith in Christ. I have lost family, friends, close relationships for my faith in Christ. Hey – In some parts of the world Christians are being martyred for their faith! Jailed for their faith! Beaten for their faith! My suffering for Christ is minute compared to brothers in sisters in Christ who have taken a firm stand for their faith to the point of death! There IS a cost for following Jesus. And suffering IS suffering, Jesus suffered an unbelievable, incomparable death on the cross, for sins He did NOT commit! For OUR sins! Jesus was rejected! He knows what rejection feels like! Jesus was beaten! There is NOTHING that you are suffering through that Jesus cannot relate to or understand! In our suffering we need to turn to Him! Pray! Believe that He will bring you through WHATEVER it is that is causing you to suffer. Because HE WILL. So pour out your heart to Him. Pray – which is talking to Him! Tell Him! Share your pain with Him! He understands! He is there! You are NOT alone! In sharing your pain with Him, He will fill you with His peace, Holy Spirit will minister to you! Point you towards scriptures that will strengthen you in God’s Word (the Bible). It is one of the reasons why we have the Bible! Read it! Doing so will increase your assurance that He is there! Some of the trials I have endured (even though I didn’t know it at the time -but God did…) were to (at a later point in my walk), help me be able to extend the right hand of fellowship behind me and help someone else going through a similar situation…
Some of the trials helped burn off dross in me that needed to be renewed or changed, meant to increase my faith in Him. The transforming of our minds can be painful. But even though it is hard to admit, worth the strength it grew in me, in Christ. Even if we don’t know what or why something is happening, we can trust that through it all God knows what He is doing, because even when He doesn’t reveal the “why of it” to me, I know He really is a GOOD Father, and He knows what He is doing. I just have to trust Him.
One of the things I have discovered, is that when it comes to interceding for loved ones – my job is to pray FOR them. To stand in the gap should God call upon me in my faith to do so, but I am NOT called to save anyone. I can’t! Sometimes some of our frustration is in the fact that we want those we love to know and accept the gift of salvation that we have received! But it is NOT our job to change hearts, but to speak the truth, in love! We CANNOT save ANYONE! Only Holy Spirit can change hearts! So we are to pray that He will! And TRUST that He will! We are to be faithful and truthful in our walk with the Lord! To give an account when it is asked of us! To allow the light of Christ to shine THROUGH us! It is Holy Spirit that does a good work through us, Zechariah 4:6 says:
” ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.’ “
Isaiah 53:3 describes this (prophesying about Jesus):
” “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” “
I know it is uncomfortable to speak the truth to those who would rather hear untruths or sugar coated words – but we are called to allow the light of Christ to shine THROUGH us! Psalm 46:1 tells us:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Matthew 5:14-16 tells us:
” “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” “
Suffering causes perseverance, honestly although unpleasant, I will admit that most of the suffering I have endured has caused me to grow in my faith. I know without a doubt that I can do NOTHING without God. Nor do I want to. He is my life. He is my hope. He is my heart. He is my very reason for being. I am learning to understand how important it is to praise Him through pain. To believe even when I don’t see in the earthly realm relief. To hold fast to the Father, because He IS my strength. To believe with my whole heart that NOTHING happens to me without His knowing it. To trust that although I see in part, my Father sees in full! To hide the promises He gives me in the Bible in my heart so that Holy Spirit can have them bubble forth to the surface of my mind when I am enduring hardships. My prayer when I’m struggling is one that I hope will help you as it helps me.
“Father God, I love You. Jesus, thank You for all You have endured for my sake. Holy Spirit thank You for taking residence in my heart, teaching me, guiding me and directing me. Father, forgive me for my sins, wash me in the blood of my Savior. Please give me ears to hear, eyes to see, a heart to receive and a nose to smell your sweet fragrance no matter what I go through in life. Thank You that You have promised me You will NEVER leave nor forsake me. Thank You that my faith and my trust is in You and NOT in my circumstances. Help me to praise You and worship You and trust You through ALL that life throws my way. Help me not to lose heart. Help me to abide in You. Father, where I am weak, please make me strong! Where I am strong, help me to stay strong! Help me to glorify your name through it all. I love You so much. Please be glorified in my life. If there be any evil within me, or anything that needs changing, I pray You remove it! Change it! If there is anything displeasing about me, renew my mind Father! Create in me a clean heart! Be glorified! Thank You Father! In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN”
As I write these words, I have just gone through a year and a half of having to endure a difficult and painful situation. A “Job-like” situation, and the dawn is finally breaking through. What did I do during that difficult time? I clung to the Father, I prayed non-stop. I did not give into despair, although I cried through the struggle. I endured because I had no choice BUT to endure. We don’t always understand why God allows us to go through situations, but we can choose to trust that He knows what He is doing.
IN THE MIDST OF YOUR PAIN, DO YOU TRUST HIM? REALLY TRUST HIM?
What have I learned through this recent trial? It reinforced my belief that I can’t make it without God. That I need my Savior. That I need Holy Spirit to guide me… That I have to keep my eyes on Jesus through the storms of life. That I can’t EVER let go. It has taught me that God IS Sovereign. It has taught me that I CANNOT be led by my feelings – feelings are deceptive. That I have to be led by faith. That when the rubber hits the road, I get to choose who it is I am going to believe, God or my circumstances… Holy Spirit throughout it all brought scriptures that I had hidden in my heart to the surface. This is why it is so important to spend time in God’s Word – God’s LIVING Word. It encourages me, it strengthens me, it gives me hope! It shows me examples of those that came before me that ALSO had to endure. Look at the faith of Abraham found in Genesis! (Read Genesis Chapter 22)!
So I ask you, will you trust God? Will you believe Him? Will you endure? Whatever comes your way? Jesus paid it ALL for you, will you live a life for Him, no matter WHAT comes your way? That’s not an easy question, I know… But Beloved Reader, in the little bit I have experienced (which is NOTHING like what the Apostles experienced – do you know all but one was martyred for their faith?) .
James 1:2-12 tells us:
” “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. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” “
You can be real with God. You can tell Him how you are feeling, He knows anyhow! You don’t have to “keep a stiff upper lip” with Him. The Bible tells us He knows your thoughts before you even think them, so you can be honest. He wants you to be honest. A personal relationship means just that, it’s personal… God cares and He is there. He never told us that it would be easy, but Beloved, it is so worth it. Hold fast to Him, He won’t let you go! Psalm 30:5 says:
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
God IS with you! And I promise you, He won’t let you go! You just keep holding on to Him, Trusting Him in ALL things. He is GREATER than ANYTHING we experience! He’s got you! Of THAT you can trust. \0/ \0/ \0/
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