Often a picture is painted that by giving your life to Christ everything will instantly become perfect. That suffering will no longer be a part of your life. In which all the dark clouds will roll away. Letting forth a new light and the dark days will never return. That notation carries some truth but often does more harm than good. Because the Bible does not promise a perfect life on earth. Nor do we see that kind of life portrayed by the Apostles and church leaders.
Instead, the Bible warns of the tough times and persecution that lie ahead for every believer. All the while promising a perfect, worry, pain, and hurt free life to come in Heaven. The Bible does tell of a better life on earth in terms of unexplainable joy and peace that help believers navigate even the darkest times. The Bible also teaches us how to accept suffering in your life and still hold to your faith in God.
1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)
12 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.
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Philippians 1:29 (ESV)
29 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,
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
James 1:2 (ESV)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The greatest example of this comes from the Apostle Paul. A man of great faith who did much in service to the Lord but suffered greatly for it all. Yet, through all that he faced, he never lost his faith. Instead, he accepted his suffering and kept pushing forward knowing there was a purpose for it. The same is true for believers today as well. God is not going to allow you to suffer for nothing. It will have a purpose even when you cannot see it. Paul even while suffering the most severe persecution imaginable still wrote that God works all things to the good of those who believe. Meaning that God is able to use even the worst things for the betterment of those who trust in Him.
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Something that can easily be seen by studying the life of Paul. Take the thorn in the flesh that Paul received. We do not know specifically what this thorn is though. Some have ventured guesses though. What we do know is that it bothered Paul enough to cause him to cry out to God multiple times. Asking Him to take it away. But God would not take it away. The man who prayed to God and saw countless others healed. Paul could have a handkerchief that had been at his waist taken and laid on a sick person to heal them of any sickness, was unable to pray for himself and be healed.
Acts 14:8–10 (ESV)
8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.
Acts 19:11–12 (ESV)
11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
That would be a hard pill to swallow. After doing so much for others and seeing so many others healed to not receive your own healing would be a debilitating blow. Yet, Paul accepted the Lord’s answer. Paul also came to see that his thorn was meant to keep him humble and serving the Lord righteously. It is possible had Paul not had this issue he would have become arrogant. Due to all that he was able to accomplish through God and eventually fall into a wicked trap. But God gave him a blessing in disguise that kept Paul on the right track headed to eternal salvation. Isn’t it possible that your suffering is actually the thing keeping you connected to God and what will result in you not wandering down the wrong path once again?
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (ESV)
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
If anyone has ever had a reason to complain about where they are in life, it was Paul. He had done it all right after coming to know God. He lived according to the scripture and took every opportunity to share the gospel. Yet, he still always ended up facing hard times. Which often meant being beaten and chained in a jail cell. But nowhere in the Bible do we read of Paul complaining about whatever circumstance he found himself in. Instead, Paul simply accepted his suffering. Still, he would be found bleeding in jail still praising the Lord loud for all to hear.
Acts 16:23–25 (ESV)
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
This is of course in part due to the fact that he truly trusted the Lord with all his heart. Believing that God had a better plan and knowing that the suffering he currently faced could compare nothing to the glory of Heaven. But Paul was also able to understand one other thing. Paul could see that his time spent in chains often resulted in others coming to know the truth of the Gospel. This just happened to be the case that night following his unashamed praise to the Lord mentioned above. In which a whole family was saved. Making it worth all the suffering he had to face.
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
Acts 16:29–33 (ESV)
29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
Philippians 1:12–14 (ESV)
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Paul’s suffering ultimately led to the church growing and faith being strengthened. A good result from a bad situation that possibly couldn’t be seen at the moment but was all too clear looking back. What good things can you look back and see produced from your suffering just as Paul did? God has a reason for where you are and where you were. In some way, it had an impact either on your life or that of another even if you can’t currently see it.
It is also worth being said that God told Paul he would have to face much suffering in order to serve Him. Paul knew coming into his faith that the road would not be easy, but he knew that it be worth it in the end. As we have already seen at the beginning of this article God has given us the very same warning in His word. He didn’t hide the fact that life would still be hard while serving Him and that we would all have to face some level of suffering. Scripture makes that clear to us. While also telling us about the great things that are in store for us in the next life. Where suffering will be no more and where we will live eternity in peace.
Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Knowing this should help you as you face suffering just as it helped Paul. He wasn’t surprised when suffering came as a Christian because he always knew it was coming. That’s just one more of the reasons he was able to accept whatever came his way and still praise the Lord. In fact, knowing that hard times would come is the same reason that the other Apostles were able to praise the Lord after being threatened and beaten. They didn’t question God or walk away from the faith. Instead, they praised God for counting them worthy to suffer for His name. Knowing that because they faced hard times they were on the right track.
Acts 5:40–42 (ESV)
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
No one wants to suffer or face hard times but it is a fact of life. Don’t expect to never suffer as a Christian because that will only cause you so much hurt in this life. Instead, know that suffering is a part of our faith. Accept that it is happening and continue to serve the Lord despite it. Knowing as Paul did that behind the suffering God allows us to face there’s always a greater purpose. Whether it helps to drive your faith forward or bring others into the fold of the faith. You can know that God has a plan and a purpose for all you must face in this life. Just keep trusting Him to always keep His promises.
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