Suffering as part of God's Glory

The Lord has placed us in an environment with a certain supply of the gifts of His grace, and we didn't earn any of them. Everything we have, and everything we are able to obtain, comes as a result of the Grace of God; we have deserved nothing. Christians suffer for many reasons, sometimes through no fault of their own. A Christian will experience a normal amount of suffering as part of human existence. But if a believer stays in fellowship with God and grows in Christ consistently. The following is a list of reasons why believers in fellowship suffer undeservedly in order to bring blessing to themselves or others. 1. Suffering for the glory of God: Book of Job; Isa. 48:9-11 2. Suffering to comfort others: 2 Cor. 1:3-6 3. Suffering to demonstrate the power of God, the provisions of grace: 2 Cor. 12:8-10 4. Suffering from spiritual growing pains; the testing that strengthens faith: Deut. 8:1-10; James 1:1-6; 1 Pet. 1:7,8; Rom. 5:3 Faster growth means more frequent testing; there is a refining process: Job. 23:10; Isa. 1:18-27; 1 Pet. 1:7 5. Suffering to keep down pride: 2 Cor. 12:6,7; Matt. 26:31-75 (the scattering of the disciples) 6. Suffering to illustrate doctrine (for advanced believers): Book of Hosea 7. Suffering by association occurs when we have some relationship with someone who is suffering: Rom. 14:7; 1 Cor. 12:26; 1 Chron. 21 8. Suffering to show the fruit of the Spirit and the results of edification: 2 Cor. 4:6-11 9. Suffering to learn the value of doctrine: Psalm 119:65-72 10. Suffering as a witness to Christ: 2 Tim. 2:8-12; John 15:18-21; Acts 5:40-42; 1 Cor. 4:9-16 11. Suffering as a result of exercising a spiritual gift; illustrated by the life of the Apostle Paul 12. Suffering from involvement in spiritual battles, the angelic conflict: Eph. 3:8-13 PROMISES TO BELIEVERS WHO SUFFER Psalm 34:19,20; Isa.43:2; 2 Cor. 4:17 and 12:9; 1 Peter 5:10 God allows us to go through these difficult things because He wants us to be more like Him, and He is with us each step of the way. I Peter 2:20-21 - If you are beaten for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for being patient in your punishment. But if you suffer for doing good, and you are patient, then God is pleased. This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as He did. I Peter 3:14 - But even if you suffer for doing right, you are blessed. "Don't be afraid of what they fear; do not dread those things." I Peter 5:10 - And after you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling. He called you to share in His glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever. Suffering has five main themes to it: 1. Our God is good. Our pain allows us to identify with our Lord, who suffered for our sin in our place, being without fault and undeserving of the suffering. So, why should we expect better? It draws us closer to and more intimate with Him. God will actually enter into the pain with us. So if there is no healing, He is just working harder in us! 2. God will use our suffering for the greater good that is His purpose. Consider it fertilizer to the garden of life. Giving our burden to God through prayer, as Paul did, will allow us to grow in greater depth spiritually. 3. Remember, God is working even when we do not feel it! The chief purpose of God's Will for us is to grow us closer to Him! It is not about money, or power, or our bodies, or work, or anything else! The focus on Christ and His character will perfect our character to be more Christ like and be in His will. 4. Suffering is not being a martyr; rather, it is valuable for our living as we learn to surrender everything to Him. Never force suffering on yourself for attention, as this does not glorify God, only yourself! 5. When we are filled with joy, even in the mist of suffering, we mirror to the world the character of Christ. The main theme of suffering is not how we answer the ways and whys, but how we live our lives so to still give God the glory! How do we allow Him to use us, and then share our experiences for the benefit of others, such as people like Joni Erickson Tada? Suffering is a choice, not of will we go though it or not, but how will we deal and learn from it. That is what is important! When we trust in Him, He will not forsake us, leave us, or abandon us. He is always there. Remember, Jesus Himself suffered the most on our behalf--the Person, the God who cares for us! He took our place of suffering and bore our sins so we could have meaning, purpose, and a place in Heaven. We need to take to heart that when life is at its darkest, God is there. He understands, and loves and carries us though it. We need to accept the fact that God is in control, even if we do not understand. It is by faith we can endure it. We can place such faith in Him because of the assurance we have through His Word, even when we do not understand. Our true home and purpose is not here; it is still to come. We are not made for this world, we are just here to learn all we can, and with what Christ has given to us, make the best and most of the situations in which we find ourselves. Then, one day, we will be called to our true home in eternity, in Heaven. So, let us cling to the hope we have, not the things we experience!