Do you suffer well?
In a world where we are constantly avoiding any hardships in our lives it is absolutely counter-culture to embrace suffering. But what exactly does the Bible say on this?
First in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' time on this Earth it is clear that He suffered for our sake.
"And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again." Mark 8:31
As followers of Christ we are also called to pick up our cross and emulate our savior.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
This is reiterated throughout the New Testament where the apostles challenges us to suffer for Christ's sake.
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake," Philippians 1:29
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled," 1 Peter 3:13-14
Now why do we suffer? Like previously stated we suffer for Christ's sake and God's glory. (Romans 9:36)
But the often encouraging thing for me is that we, believers in Christ, are ensured that our suffering is never done in vain. Suffering stirs up and develops fruits of the spirit within us like many other things cannot. So much so that we are told to rejoice in our suffering:
"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." Romans 5:3-5
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
And lastly nothing on this Earth, neither trial nor finite tastes of joy can ever amount to the exceeding pleasure and glory that we will discover for eternity in heaven (Romans 8:18)
Has the idea that we should not only avoid running from suffering, but embrace it been convinced to you yet? If your anything like me you still have a hard time grasping this, and I am in continual prayer for God to help me understand how to suffer well.
Lately, I feel like I have not suffered well, I have taken refuge in complaining and have been lacking in my ability to love others. Specifically, finding little joy in the process of waiting to hear an answer about medical school. However I am so grateful that where sin abounds, grace abounds even greater.
I am thankful that as I learn how to suffer as Jesus' has called me to, His very Spirit will never leave my side.
I may not be flying through trials, but I can take one step at a time.
"A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting"- Oswald Chambers
-Steph
In a world where we are constantly avoiding any hardships in our lives it is absolutely counter-culture to embrace suffering. But what exactly does the Bible say on this?
First in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' time on this Earth it is clear that He suffered for our sake.
"And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again." Mark 8:31
As followers of Christ we are also called to pick up our cross and emulate our savior.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
This is reiterated throughout the New Testament where the apostles challenges us to suffer for Christ's sake.
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake," Philippians 1:29
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled," 1 Peter 3:13-14
Now why do we suffer? Like previously stated we suffer for Christ's sake and God's glory. (Romans 9:36)
But the often encouraging thing for me is that we, believers in Christ, are ensured that our suffering is never done in vain. Suffering stirs up and develops fruits of the spirit within us like many other things cannot. So much so that we are told to rejoice in our suffering:
"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." Romans 5:3-5
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
And lastly nothing on this Earth, neither trial nor finite tastes of joy can ever amount to the exceeding pleasure and glory that we will discover for eternity in heaven (Romans 8:18)
Has the idea that we should not only avoid running from suffering, but embrace it been convinced to you yet? If your anything like me you still have a hard time grasping this, and I am in continual prayer for God to help me understand how to suffer well.
Lately, I feel like I have not suffered well, I have taken refuge in complaining and have been lacking in my ability to love others. Specifically, finding little joy in the process of waiting to hear an answer about medical school. However I am so grateful that where sin abounds, grace abounds even greater.
I am thankful that as I learn how to suffer as Jesus' has called me to, His very Spirit will never leave my side.
I may not be flying through trials, but I can take one step at a time.
"A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day—in and day—out consistency; a life of walking without fainting"- Oswald Chambers
-Steph
