Warning—suffering is gruesome and the top picture is difficult to see. But, the truth is suffering grows us. God uses suffering for our good. Therefore, we should embrace suffering.What, you ask? Well, have you ever welcomed a brand spanking new baby believer into the fold and thought, “Just wait.”? And after some time of suffering that person has matured or revealed that the original dropped seed of faith never rooted? Faith must be tested.
I don’t possess the answer as to why death takes children prematurely or why drunk drivers kill hundreds of people. And, I don’t know how God weaves such horrendous sufferings into a personal tapestry. But, in the end, I desire to look like Christ. I will suffer.
Suffering—plain and simple—is one tool God uses to conform us into the image of Christ. Take a moment and look at Christ. Yes, really look at Him. Do you wince at the picture of His suffering? Touch the wounds. Feel the blood as it drips down His body. His breath is heavy and intermittent as He hangs there for me and all who will receive Him. Suffering—the perfect picture.
In the writing world, in His story, we would call the process of His relationship to each one of us a layer. Christ has millions of layers—and we see that in His suffering. In the second picture, we note contemplation. But, depth of the character of a person is unveiled through suffering.
Is there benefit to embracing suffering? If so, how does that work its way out in us—in you and me? Suffering brings humility. Suffering pulls me to a point whereby I raise my hands and acknowledge I have no control over a matter. The issue may be physical such as cancer or it may be a breaking heart as the loss of a loved one. Make no mistake—suffering brings us low to keep us aligned with God. Throughout Proverbs we learn the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. And, we need wisdom to live our lives in a Godly fashion—righteously.For those of you who are equation-oriented, meditate on this:
Suffering-->humility-->fear of the Lord-->wisdom-->Christ likeness
C.S. Lewis wrote concerning the principle of first and second things. The first and most important is the soul. The body is second. In a fallen world, our nature is to put the body first. We want to feel good, own large homes and chase after money. Maybe that’s why Jesus told us we can’t serve two masters—God and money.
When the first becomes second and vice versa, our values change. We covet feel-good sin and our soul is left to confess later. Suffering helps keep the first thing first.
To believe we won’t suffer because God wants to bless us is adverse to Scripture. To believe the modern wave of the prosperity doctrine slaps Jesus in the face since He had no place to lay His head. Again, note the first thing and second thing swapped positions.
Maybe we need a mind adjustment to look beyond the current trials of life. As Paul said in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
As you go through suffering in this life, stop and contemplate this verse. Better yet, pick up your Bible. Go on—do it now. Got it? If you haven’t read it in a while, blow the dust off is cover. Then read that verse in context of the book of Romans.
I would delight to know your thoughts about suffering in a comment here. Do you have a favorite Scripture on the topic? Share that too.
Blessings,
Jackie
