There are areas of suffering that are so unexplainable. It takes “supernatualness” to be able to understand suffering. God see’s everything that goes on this earth…good and evil. He’s see’s every evil act done publicly and those done in secret. So you might have asked yourself…how can God look upon a person being severely abused or tortured or at a horrific catastrophic event where hundreds or thousands of people are killed?
Well I can tell you for sure….it takes a “supernatural being” to be able to handle seeing severe suffering. This is why we humans are so perplexed about this subject. We are NOT supernatural so things like that greatly affects us. We cannot possibly understand suffering. All we can do is hold on to the words in the bible and know that the power of the Holy Spirit can bring us the grace and comfort that we need to hold it together during difficult times. We are NOT going to make sense of it. This seemingly perplexing thing is something about God that people don’t understand. Some people even get really mad at God because they think He’s turned a blind eye to human suffering.
God hasn’t done that. He has a plan. He has a way out. He promised it would be worth it in the end for those who have chosen to receive His Son Jesus Christ and for those who have graciously accepted taking up the cross (denying themselves) and have endured in their suffering. It’s God’s way and either you can accept it or reject it…deny it…or fight it. It’s His world! He created us and He made the rules.
1Peter 4:12-13 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.(MSG)
I have suffered a great deal in my life and I’ve recently been through a lot suffering and have come to some conclusions about this subject….
1Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
My suffering has done a lot for me spiritually.
- I’m a gospel singer and I select songs that minister to people. When I sing…everything I’ve gone through and all the times God saw me through a difficult situation comes through me through that song. I get very emotional when I sing. My signature song is His eye is on the sparrow. I sing that from the depths of my heart. Because of my suffering….this song and music means so much to me. If not for my suffering, my music ministry would not be the same.
- My suffering has shown me God, it’s revealed Jesus to me in ways I could have never experienced and it has allowed the Holy Spirit to minister comfort and miracles to me personally.
- It has taught me how to pray, how to wait on God and trust Him no matter what.
- It has allowed me to see God at work in my life and has allowed me to store my past rescues up for future encouragement. ( Remembering how God brought you out of troubles in the past… will help you get through present troubles.)
- Suffering is never easy… but it has made me a stronger Christian.
- Suffering keeps Jesus very near to me and I have to keep very close to Him for my support and peace of mind.
- Suffering helps me to know the truth of Gods word. My Suffering is spiritually maturing me. Psalms 119:66-67 Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Suffering is a natural part of human life and everyone will suffer at some point in their life. As we get older our bodies will start to fail us. Eyes start to go and we will need glasses, arthritis starts to set in, and, emotional, financial difficulties happens. Our husband or wife may die and on and on. I think things get worse for a reason. The reason is the more challenging life becomes…the better heaven looks. Knowing that we will have a happy, pain-free,and no more sorrows excitants…sounds wonderful!!! If we didn’t face a life of challenges and begin to age….I don’t we would understand that this place is really not the end all and we may not look forward to our new eternal life with our Father God.
You have to take suffering for what it is. What is it? It’s what God has designed to perfect us and to make us into what He wants us to be here on earth resulting in how we will be in heaven. I keep my mind on this thought and not on trying to understand God’s philosophy for His type of perfecting us. It’s strange to us but not to God. If I stray from His word on this subject and try to gain my own understanding… I will become disillusioned with my faith in God and I will doubt and get angry at the way I think He’s treating me. I always say to myself…It’s His way… it’s His world and I’m His creation. I need to stay within His program and not my own idea’s and thoughts.
Everything God does for me is out of His love for me…even my suffering. If crucified Jesus suffered…if beheaded John the Baptist who was doing a great work for God suffered…If beaten up Paul and all the harassed disciples who also did great work for the Lord and suffered horrible deaths had to suffer….then what makes me think I won’t be required to suffer as I live for and serve the master. Can I get an Amen here?
God made us promises about what He will do for us if we endure suffering:
GOD PROMISED – 1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.
The part “no human mind has conceived” Sends chills through me!!! We can’t even imagine how great our eternal life will be! All suffering is temporary!!! Before you know it… you will have a supernatural awesome life. Keep this in your mind when you are faced with great difficulty in your life.
Here are some of the most encouraging scriptures…….
GOD PROMISED – Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
JESUS SAID – John 14:2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
JESUS SAID – Numbers 23:19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
So what do I know about suffering? That is normal…there is help… that there is… or will be a way out of your suffering. There is also a BIG reward for your suffering. I KNOW this life is hard right now! I know suffering is a hard pill to swallow. I know Jesus will be there for you every step of the way and that we should trust Him no matter what the circumstance. God has been good to us in our lives and we are so thankful. We should be thankful for the rough times too because they have a purpose.
Job said to his wife…..Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. (Job 2:10)
(Sidebar here about some types of suffering….Sometimes God uses suffering to correct us but He will let you know about that when you seek Him for the cause of your suffering and He will give you a way out after your repentance. This is done out of His love for you. This is not your everyday suffering and you should not look for this to be the answer for all your suffering. Hebrews 12:6-8 )
Over the past 62 years of my life… I have suffered a great deal from all kinds of things. I would say 60% would be physical/illness and 40% other stuff. In the past few years I can look back and see the benefits of my suffering. It has done something inside of my spiritman that I just can’t describe to you. It’s a supernatural work of God and only He knows how to bring this type of outcome out of my pain and suffering. A sports coach or any kind of coach or trainer knows just the right strategy and type of exercises to make his student a pro. Well God knows the right things to make us into what He wants us to be and what He wants to produce in our lives. God wants us to endure and be faithful until our earthly end.
Romans 5:3 (NLT) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
Another thing about suffering is that I trust God in everything in my life. I know that He knows what’s going on with me and He’s not going to let go of me. I know that He can sometimes be very silent during hard times when we feel we need Him the most…but… I KNOW HE IS NEAR because His word…the bible says He is!!! So even if I don’t feel Him…I just know He is there!! He’s not a liar!!! I know He will and does help me. I sit and wait. Yes sometimes I might cry because the trial or suffering is very hard…but I trust Him. Every hard trial I’ve gone though and am going through…His grace is there every second of every day! If not…I could not still be positive in writing this blog and still Loving Jesus the way I do after all I’ve been through.
1 Corintians4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Even if all earthly things fail and I’m in the shadows of death…I know the Holy Spirit is in me and will help me to cross over into my eternal wonderful life with God. I win if I stay and I win big if I go. I feel very blessed that I’m God’s child.
James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
How I chose to deal with my present suffering is up to me. I can deal with it by walking with the Lord, holding His hand and keeping my eyes on Jesus….or I can be doubtful, fearful and feel hopeless. I know that life is hard sometimes…I’m living that…but I also know the miracle and supernatural ability of God to sustain me and others who have gone through and are going through extreme difficult circumstances, hard trials and suffering. It’s a miracle because through loss and grief….pain and suffering…disappointments and failures…we still believe that God is great and God is good! How is that possible? Why aren’t we kicking God to the curb? Because the bible is true and God is Good, Jesus has power and the Holy Spirit is attached to us to help us and it’s all….Supernatual! It’s a fact! Period!!!!
Dear God…there are so many people who have suffered and who are suffering. There is probably someone crying as they are reading this blog. Please comfort them and send them your peace. Please help them to deal with their suffering and help them to study and receive the help that they need from your word the Holy Bible. Please assure them of your supernatural ability to sustain them with your power. Help them to keep their eyes on you and trust you. Heal them…help them, bless them and answer their prayers according to your will. I thank you for getting them through their suffering thus far and I thank you so much for all present and future answered prayers. All the praise and glory belongs to you oh Lord. We love you! I ask these things in Jesus name…Amen.
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Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
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God Speaks I Listen 