Suffering…

“It’s in our suffering that we see a glimpse of our Savior’s suffering. His afflictions show me how to suffer with faith, grace, patience, and joy deep in my heart.”  WisdomHunters.com 

How can it be that suffering is the path to perfecting faith?  Suffering matures our faith, and gives us the potential to become more Christ-centered in our daily lives and make choices that reflect God’s will.  We all know that true faith means putting ourselves aside to fully trust God’s will and, of course, it’s easier said than done. It takes complete unquestioned trust in God that He knows what’s right for us.

Yesterday, in bible study, we were discussing our fear of change after reading about how Jesus called the disciples and they just dropped everything and followed.  How fearful would that be for us to do?  For those of us who are suffering with illness, money woes, grief, pain, etc., can we handle any more change in our life?! Someone said, “Feel the fear, then do it anyway.”       

I don’t believe that God causes our suffering.  He loves us, we are His children.  Would you want your children to suffer?  Of course not and we would do anything possible to help them if they were.  God never promised that life would be easy or free from suffering, but He did promise to be there for us.  To love and help us through it.  God will use our suffering to glorify Him.  We will survive, prosper, and become better Christians; able to serve and minister to others because of our experience. 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

Allow yourself to let the Lord love you through this painful process, as He produces His peace and His character. Be longsuffering and truly humble, and He will lift you up to inspire and encourage others.

Valerie