Nobody like sufferings. I was pondering over the incident which happened to my church sister. She slipped and fell and fractured her ankle. The fall was so bad that she had to undergo an operation. After the operation, she had to remain in bed for 6 weeks. It causes me to think about sufferings that befall on Christians and how do we face it.
We all know that true faith will be tested.
"Christians do not court suffering, but we do expect it. A disciple, after all, is not above His master." Dr. Norbert Mueller, The Lutheran Witness, July 1995
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:2-3
When I visited my friend in the hospital, she did not murmur or complain over the fall but instead she experienced the grace of God and the Word of God was timely to strengthen her for the whole ordeal. She was grateful that after the operation, the pain was manageable.
The Bible has a different perspectives concerning suffering.
1. So that we can experience God’s comfort in order that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble.
2 Corinthians 1:4-6
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
2. That we may experience the triumph in Christ over suffering and diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
2 cor 2:14
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
3. Suffering is accomplishing something great in the believers. When our outward man is perishing, our inward man is being renewed day by day. Paul regards suffering as only for a moment but the achievement is tremendous … is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
2 cor 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
4. Sufferings help us to experience God’s grace and His strength. It forces us to depend on God, whose strength is made perfect in our weakness.
2 cor 12:9
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
After the Trial/Suffering
After a trial, if we truly rely on Him, we will never be the same. God has used trials to exposes and deepens our weaknesses but at the same time it uncovers and develops new strengths and opportunities for ministry. God is the skillful workman that uses "trials" like a chisel to change the Christian’s heart painfully---to enliven our hope in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 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.
We all know that true faith will be tested.
"Christians do not court suffering, but we do expect it. A disciple, after all, is not above His master." Dr. Norbert Mueller, The Lutheran Witness, July 1995
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:2-3
When I visited my friend in the hospital, she did not murmur or complain over the fall but instead she experienced the grace of God and the Word of God was timely to strengthen her for the whole ordeal. She was grateful that after the operation, the pain was manageable.
The Bible has a different perspectives concerning suffering.
1. So that we can experience God’s comfort in order that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble.
2 Corinthians 1:4-6
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
2. That we may experience the triumph in Christ over suffering and diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
2 cor 2:14
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
3. Suffering is accomplishing something great in the believers. When our outward man is perishing, our inward man is being renewed day by day. Paul regards suffering as only for a moment but the achievement is tremendous … is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
2 cor 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
4. Sufferings help us to experience God’s grace and His strength. It forces us to depend on God, whose strength is made perfect in our weakness.
2 cor 12:9
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
After the Trial/Suffering
After a trial, if we truly rely on Him, we will never be the same. God has used trials to exposes and deepens our weaknesses but at the same time it uncovers and develops new strengths and opportunities for ministry. God is the skillful workman that uses "trials" like a chisel to change the Christian’s heart painfully---to enliven our hope in Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 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.
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