Suffering and Strength

No one is exempt from difficulty and suffering.

If we do not have a biblical view of suffering, we will be greatly discouraged.

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.Matthew 5:45

Tribulation: an oppressive state of physical, mental, social or economic adversity

Three Categories of People

Those going through a trial.

Those coming out of a trial.

Those who soon find themselves in a trial.

We must maintain the right perspective in sufferings.

We rejoice in sufferings.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.Matthew 5:10-12

We trust God in suffering.

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.1 Peter 4:19

We model joyful Christianity in suffering.

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.Philippians 1:12-14

We are aware of an eternal purpose at work.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Romans 8:28-29

Suffering is meant to drive us deeper in our faith.

Suffering creates steadfast endurance.

Suffering is the weight room for the Christian life.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.2 Corinthians 11:24-27

Suffering creates boldness.

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.Acts 5:40-42

We cannot do it in our own strength, but God promised His strength and victory.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.Romans 8:35-37

God’s Word gives us hope.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.Romans 15:4

Prepare for suffering in advance.

In the midst of suffering, find reason to praise.

In the midst of suffering, lean hard into God.

In the midst of suffering, don’t look for an exit. Look for the strength to persevere.

After the suffering, praise God and share your story.

Don’t waste your trial.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:1 Peter 1:7