Weekly Word Archives

Suffering Series

Did You Say Rejoice?
Part 8

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In previous lessons we have learned that suffering can be the result of:

1.	Living out the consequences of our own choices. Some of those choices are a result of believing the lies of Satan about God’s character and about ourselves.

2.	Living in a fallen world where we each choose to sin.

3.	Living in a fallen world where our bodies decay and die.

4.	Living in a fallen world where the environment is no longer perfect (weeds, insects, tornadoes, hurricanes).

5.	Living or dying because of the sinful choices of others, seeing our loved ones in pain or death because of the actions of another person.

6.	An attack of Satan.

7.	Affliction brought on by others as we wait on God’s timing to accomplish His purpose.

We have also learned that God has a big picture of what He wants to accomplish in this world. As a believer, we are part of the big picture to accomplish God’s purpose even when we don’t know what our part is or what the picture will look like. There may be times of suffering or affliction brought on by others as we wait on God’s timing to accomplish His purpose. We can run to God rather than turn our back to Him.

When we go through times of suffering because of our own choices, we can fall on our face before God and confess our sin and repent or we can blame others for what has happened.

None of us like times of adversity, hard times, or suffering. None of us like physical pain either. Do you ever choose to have physical pain? Yes, we do when we think it will benefit us. For example, when we choose to have surgery rather than to continue to live with cancer, a broken bone or a bad gall bladder. We deliberately choose to go through serious pain because we believe that we will be healthier physically when it is over.

I am not about to suggest that we should deliberately choose emotional pain so that we will be healthier or happier when it is over... Unless, of course, you choose to go through a counseling process with another person or with God to discover wrong beliefs that you have so you can begin to relate to others and to life in a healthier way… Unless you choose to pursue an intimate relationship with another person through marriage, childbearing, or friendships. We know that intimate relationships will always produce pain as well as joy. The more intimate the relationship, the more likely you are to suffer painful times either through words or actions directed toward you or through sharing their grief... Unless, of course, you choose to follow a path of giving up the world value system and being devoted to Christ.

So maybe there are times when we should deliberately choose emotionally suffering. But the harder situation is when we have those times of adversity just because we live in a fallen world with fallen people. Is there any benefit to that kind of suffering? Can any good come from it?

God says in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose.” The verse says all things work together for good. It doesn’t say all things are good but they can work together for good. How does that happen?

Let us consider three New Testament verses by three different authors, all inspired by the Holy Spirit. As you read these verses, think about what God says our attitude can be in times of trials and what the outcome can be.

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” Romans 5:3-5

“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

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trails. These had come so that your faith ¾ of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire ¾ may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor, when Jesus Christ is revealed.” I Peter 1:6-7

If you look at these three passages, a common thread runs through all of them. First is that of our attitude ¾ rejoice, consider it pure joy, and greatly rejoice. How many of us can say that is our attitude in suffering or trials? I can not say that I have gotten to that point yet of actually rejoicing in times of adversity. But I can say that I look forward to what God wants to do in me as I go through those difficulties. But remember, God said, all things work together for good. So we can be assured that good will come out of it.

What can adversity produce in us? God says it can produce perseverance, character, hope, love, maturity, genuine faith, praise, honor and glory. Do you desire those character attributes in your own life? Are they worth rejoicing? If we were fixed on the end result more intently than the present circumstance, I believe it would be easier to rejoice.

The key to the development of those characteristics in our life is our faith. It means that our faith must be directed toward God. We have to trust Him, to rely on Him. Otherwise, the suffering is but loss in our lives. It damages us instead of growing us.

Charles Stanley, in his series Winning Over Life’s Struggles, says “Yet we can trust in the fact that no matter what we face, He is in it with us and He has a plan for the difficulty. The Lord wastes nothing. He takes the dark times of life and brings light and hope. Each adversity is used to teach us more about His love and faithfulness. If we never faced difficulty, we would never understand the depth of God’s love and faithfulness… The secret to victory in suffering is to stop worrying about the external and focus on the fact that Christ is right beside you at all times.”

We must believe that God wants good for us and receive His grace. We receive His grace through surrendering our will to Him. We choose to give up self-pity. We give up retribution or revenge or punishment. We give up our anger and disappointment. We receive His love, His care and His grace.

What is it in your life right now that is causing emotional pain? Can you focus on Christ instead of the circumstance? Can you look forward to what God wants to produce in you? Can you trust Him to work it into good in your life?

God’s grace, my surrender.