Faith and Suffering

Faith in God allows me to go as far as I can while trusting in God's grace to overcome the difficulties I face. God is asking me to stay strong in faith, keep at it, to carry on, to stick with it, as I trust in HIS possibilities. In doing so God will lift me above my circumstances as he develops my patience, character and hope. Romans 5:3-4 ".....I also rejoice in my sufferings, because I know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." I suffer to keep down pride (2 Cor. 12:7). I suffer because it is a training tool. God lovingly and faithfully uses suffering to develop personal righteousness, maturity, and my walk with Him (Heb. 12:5f; 1 Pet. 1:6; Jam. 1:2-4). Suffering or trials teach me the truth of Psalm 62:1-8, the truth of learning to “wait on the Lord only.” This means that this can require sacrifice, courage, discipline, and faith in the belief that God is good and has my best interests at heart regardless of how things might appear to me. Those are what brings me closer to God. If people don't believe suffering is part of a Christian's life, that's fine because the Holy Spirit can guide a believer to the right path. Each of us will post our own views. Some are more extreme than the other. At the same time, suffering does happen whether we deny it or not.