If you are like me maybe you had the temptation to ignore this article when you saw the word “suffering”. Our human nature is to avoid suffering, but yet we suffer because we live in a broken world. Jesus says in John 16:33: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV) John 16:33”.
The issue with suffering is our perspective, if we look at suffering from fear we will have a foreboding, hopeless outlook of life. But if we look at suffering from eyes of faith it will stir in us hope. Everybody will have different levels or types of suffering. We share our good moments on social media, but Scripture urges us to share in the suffering of Christ. (2 Tim 1:8) This totally against what we are taught in the “school of life”. We are taught to run from suffering. And this certainly has its merits especially if we don’t know what we are suffering for.
So let us start looking at what suffering is. Suffering is a state of undergoing pain, distress or hardship. (Google) When we look at the world we can identify many instances of pain, distress and hardship. But as I mentioned suffering in the kingdom brings a different dimension to our experience. Let us look at what the Bible says about suffering.
1. that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV) Philippians 3:10-11
Sharing in suffering is for us to become like Jesus. When we are transformed more and more into His image we can experience more of His resurrection power in our life.
2. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, (ESV) 2 Timothy 1:8-9
We suffer for the gospel of Jesus Christ by the power of God.
3. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. (ESV) 2 Timothy 2:3-7
A soldier suffers in training so that he is prepared for battle. You cannot take a short cut when you want to win a race, you have to suffer the whole distance. The farmer gets the first share of the crops because he was suffering throughout the whole year to see the harvest.
4. 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. (ESV) 1 Peter 4:12-13
- Know that your faith will be tested.
5. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (ESV) 1 Peter 2:19-23
Grace is our portion when our minds are set on pleasing God even when it hurts.
Entrust yourself to the one who judges justly. God judges according to the image of His Son.
6. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering (ESV) 2 Thessalonians 1:5
Enduring suffering because of the gospel is to make you worthy of the kingdom of God. Your enemies are not enduring now, but they will endure God’s wrath. God is not slow but patient.
7. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (ESV) Ephesians 3:13
Your suffering is for the benefit of those who will be impacted by your ministry.
8. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (ESV) Romans 5:3-5
Our sufferings can take many forms as I mentioned earlier, but this does not dilute the severity of its impact on our lives. We can only endure if we have the fruit of the Spirit present in our lives. (Gal 5:22) When we face these sufferings, whatever they are, with joy we gain endurance. This endurance in turn produces character and character hope. I believe this character is the character of Christ in us the Hope of Glory! (Col 1:27) I want to encourage those of you who have been suffering that you don’t suffer in vain and you are not alone. God knows every valley of the shadow of death that you are going through and will go through. We can rejoice because suffering for the sake of the gospel is not without purpose and this is the highest purpose of all. Those of you who might feel a bit weary in suffering remember that our destiny is not comfort but to fight! And God has placed us in a fight to win!
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (ESV) Proverbs 13:12
Prayer: Lord, I do not want to get a sick heart because of delayed hope, because you have already provided for us the Desire of all nations, a living hope. I want to endure suffering so that I can attain the character of Jesus, which brings hope despite external circumstances. In Jesus’s name, Amen!