What comes to mind when you think of suffering and what emotions rise up in you? What is your attitude towards its existence in your life and in the lives of those you love? I would venture to say that the majority (if not all) of us experience at least some negative thoughts and emotions when considering suffering. We have all called friends or family, and been called by them, for prayer when experiencing it, requesting healing and the removal of pain. We may throw in the obligatory “by His will”, but our true desire is communicated loud and clear- we want it gone! In last month’s (March 2021) blog titled, By His Will, we discussed the righteous way to pray regarding suffering- with faith and proper motivation, our will aligning with His, as a result of commitment and obedience to His Word.
Regardless of how long we have been walking with God, we can all admit to harboring some negativity towards suffering. Most often we express it as a fear of pain, but if we dig a bit deeper we discover that the true source of our negativity is faulty perspective. You see, we tend to view suffering as bad, something not to be desired, and the very thing that we fervently pray for deliverance from. Should this be our attitude towards it, though? Even when pain is from discipline or reaping what we have sown from unrighteous decisions- should it be considered a bad thing? What is God’s perspective on suffering? Here are some answers we find in His Word.
Suffering is a part of God’s plan for us.
Matthew 10:38 “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Philippians 1:29 “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,”
Suffering teaches us obedience, as it did for Jesus Christ.
Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”
Hebrews 5:8 “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”
Suffering is a necessary part of our sanctification, as it was for Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 2:10 “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
Suffering results in endurance, character, and hope.
Romans 5:3-4 “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,”
Suffering creates empathy, providing us with the opportunity to be a source of comfort and encouragement to those enduring the same type of suffering.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and 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. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
Suffering, though only temporary, is a grace gift which will results in the glorification of both God and ourselves through Him.
Romans 8:17-18 “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
James 1:12 “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.”
Suffering and its intended results are a reason for us to rejoice.
James 1:2-4 “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 4:12-13 “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.”
1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
As you can clearly see, the Bible tells us that suffering is good, beneficial, necessary, and a reason to rejoice. God views suffering as a blessing and intrinsic to our sanctification; without it, we would remain stagnant, rotting in our unchecked personal sins. The pain from suffering in our life is used to transform us into suitable vessels for His service; therefore, it is indeed a cause for rejoicing. So, when we are praying for His will regarding the deliverance from suffering, let us remember to also (or firstly) pray for His righteous perspective towards suffering. When we are able to truly share His perspective, then we will be able to truly “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
Love in Christ,
Monica Ledford