We live in a time in the modern church where the concept of suffering is viewed as a negative and faithless idea. We hear many modern preachers saying that God only wants you to be happy, healthy and successful. On the other hand, they say that if you are suffering it is because of a lack of faith and trust in God. If you are suffering, they say, you just need to bind that suffering and claim victory over it.
This concept of suffering is not foreign to scripture. It is a common theme in the New Testament. The word “suffer” or “suffering” is found in scripture over 156 times, while the words “prosper” and “prospering” are only found about 80 times. Suffering is mentioned almost twice as much as prospering and in the New Testament the word “suffering” is almost always shone in a positive light in its end result.
The Apostle Paul considered everything in his own life as garbage in view of knowing Jesus, including knowing “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil. 3:7-10). Peter tells us that if we suffer for the “sake of righteousness” that we are “blessed” (I Peter 3:14). Peter also tells us that we should not be surprised when we find ourselves in “fiery trials” because they are for our testing or refining (I Peter 4:12). In fact the book of I Peter speaks more about suffering than it does about any other major subject. The book opens with the concept of suffering (I:6-7) and ends with suffering (5:10).
Suffering is a natural and expected experience for the true Christian. We may not like to hear that, but it is true. If you are a true follower of Christ you will experience suffering to one degree or another throughout your life. Some will experience the ultimate suffering as martyrs for the name of Christ. For others the suffering we experience may be in the form or sickness, loss of job and property, ridicule, loss of home, alienation from friends or family, or some other on-going trial. When those things happen our first response is to pray that God takes them away from us, but that may not always be in God’s plan. So why does He allow us to suffer then?
There may be many reasons for the suffering in our life and in most cases we will never really understand what that reason may be. Consider Job who suffered only so that God could show that Job was a righteous man. There was no obvious sin in his life and he was considered the most righteous man on the planet at that time, yet God allowed Him to suffer incredible hardship and pain. The New Testament makes it very clear that the main reason we suffer as believers is so that God can purify us for His purposes.
In I Peter 1:6-7 Peter says; “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (emphasis mine). The picture here is of gold being refined. Gold ore has to be heated to a high temperature so that the gold melts and is separated from the dross (the impurities) that floats to the top. God tries us in His refining fire to remove the impurities from our life so that we come out shining and pure for His “praise and glory and honor”. The suffering is not meant to harm us but to make us stronger, purer, better, and more useful for His glory. We are not to be surprised or taken back when the trials come. Peter says; “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” (I Peter 4:12, emphasis mine).
So what is our response supposed to be when we are in the trials? Staying in I Peter we will look at some responses we should have:
- Rejoice in the midst of it (I Peter 1:6)
- Acknowledge it is for God’s glory (1:6)
- It finds favor with God when we suffer for our conscience sake (2:19)
- We should look to Jesus as our example of suffering (2:21)
- We should not grumble about our suffering (2:23)
- We should entrust ourselves to a righteous Judge (2:23)
- Acknowledge our suffering as a blessing (3:14; 4:14)
- We should not be fearful or intimidated at suffering or persecution (3:14)
- We must maintain good behavior in the trial as a testimony (3:16)
- We should expect suffering (4:12)
- We should rejoice that we can share to some degree the suffering of Christ (4:13)
- We should not be ashamed if we suffer for doing right (4:16)
- We must submit to the Judge of a righteous Creator and trust that He can only do what is right. (4:19)
- We should humble ourselves during trial and at all times (5:6)
- We should give our worry and fear over to Him (5:7)
- We must stand firm in our faith to resist the efforts of the evil one to undo us (5:8-9)
- We must remember that there will be an end to the suffering by which Christ will “perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish” us. (5:12)
Suffering is not fun and we do not hope it on anyone, but it will come to us and to those we know. I am thankful that scripture gives me so many examples of godly men and women who endured suffering for a greater purpose. I am thankful and prayerful for the persecuted church of today who boldly and joyfully endure the most incredible and torturous suffering I can imagine. I am thankful to God for teaching me that suffering is for my good and for His ultimate glory.
The refiner’s furnace burns with incredible heat. His hammer is heavy and swung with accuracy upon me as I lay upon His anvil. May we, as followers of the Christ who endured suffering beyond imagination on our behalf, learn to share in His sufferings so that we may become conformed more and more into His image and be made more useful vessels for the Master’s service.
-----------------
Thank you for reading. If you were blessed, I would encourage you to share this.
Subscribe to our email list here:
Me In Perspective Email List Signup