Believers sign up for suffering on behalf of Christ when they get saved. Philippians 1:29 says that it has been "granted unto us ... to suffer for His sake." Without suffering or bearing our cross there is no glory. We are not called to be martyrs (God wants "living sacrifices"), but must be willing if that is God's will for us. Catholics refer to this as supererogatory or above and beyond the call of duty. They view it as merit that can be transferred to others. Suffering and adversity make us like Christ and builds character.
As long as there is evil in the world, there will be suffering, but God can make it work out for the good like He did to Joseph in Egypt (cf. Gen. 50:20). We aren't supposed to be doormats; however, we must learn to persist, for "if we endure, we shall also reign with him," according to 2 Timothy 2:12. If we suffer for the name of Jesus, we should be joyful that we were "counted worthy." Remember what Jesus said of Paul: "I will show him what great things he must suffer for My sake." When adversity comes, it has God's permission, even if the devil instigated it. It is inevitable, and Christ didn't even exempt Himself! It is like purifying silver: When you can see your reflection, the impurities are gone. Christ is chipping away everything in us that doesn't resemble Himself, just like a sculptor making something of a rock when he chips away everything that doesn't look like his subject.
Jesus endured more suffering than any man who ever lived on our behalf, but His sufferings are completed through us! If we know the "why" we can bear almost any "how" in suffering or trials. Remember, God never promised us a bed of roses. No cross--no glory! Paul wanted to "share in His sufferings" or the "fellowship of His sufferings" (cf. Phil. 3:10). Our crosses pale in comparison to His. When we suffer, it is so that others don't have to; when we don't have to it's because others have! Why suffer? The same sun melts the butter hardens the clay. The same hammer that breaks glass forges steal. God doesn't have to explain Himself (consider Job!) and we should thank God for every opportunity our suffering brings to glorify Him. Suffering is the crucible we all go through in sanctification. It is not what happens to us, as much as what happens in us, or what we do with it. "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10). Bad things happen to good people and to bad people as well. The question should be: Why do good things happen at all?
We are "transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18). This is the way we share in His holiness and learn to love God and relate to Him. We should have the attitude of Job: "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). Paul said in Romans 5:3 that "we also rejoice in our suffering."
There is a psychological need for "negative stress" because we are not meant to live in luxury or without any problems and attitude determine how we meet the challenge. One psychiatrist wrote, "Why It Feels So Good to Feel So Bad." Isaiah knew what he was talking about when he said, "When you pass through the waters I will be with you." Put out the welcome mat and welcome adversity as a friend and challenge to grow in your relationship, knowing that God is trusting you that you can learn from it. We cannot avoid it, and if we sin there is divine discipline because it comes with the territory. Soli Deo Gloria!
As long as there is evil in the world, there will be suffering, but God can make it work out for the good like He did to Joseph in Egypt (cf. Gen. 50:20). We aren't supposed to be doormats; however, we must learn to persist, for "if we endure, we shall also reign with him," according to 2 Timothy 2:12. If we suffer for the name of Jesus, we should be joyful that we were "counted worthy." Remember what Jesus said of Paul: "I will show him what great things he must suffer for My sake." When adversity comes, it has God's permission, even if the devil instigated it. It is inevitable, and Christ didn't even exempt Himself! It is like purifying silver: When you can see your reflection, the impurities are gone. Christ is chipping away everything in us that doesn't resemble Himself, just like a sculptor making something of a rock when he chips away everything that doesn't look like his subject.
Jesus endured more suffering than any man who ever lived on our behalf, but His sufferings are completed through us! If we know the "why" we can bear almost any "how" in suffering or trials. Remember, God never promised us a bed of roses. No cross--no glory! Paul wanted to "share in His sufferings" or the "fellowship of His sufferings" (cf. Phil. 3:10). Our crosses pale in comparison to His. When we suffer, it is so that others don't have to; when we don't have to it's because others have! Why suffer? The same sun melts the butter hardens the clay. The same hammer that breaks glass forges steal. God doesn't have to explain Himself (consider Job!) and we should thank God for every opportunity our suffering brings to glorify Him. Suffering is the crucible we all go through in sanctification. It is not what happens to us, as much as what happens in us, or what we do with it. "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10). Bad things happen to good people and to bad people as well. The question should be: Why do good things happen at all?
We are "transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18). This is the way we share in His holiness and learn to love God and relate to Him. We should have the attitude of Job: "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). Paul said in Romans 5:3 that "we also rejoice in our suffering."
There is a psychological need for "negative stress" because we are not meant to live in luxury or without any problems and attitude determine how we meet the challenge. One psychiatrist wrote, "Why It Feels So Good to Feel So Bad." Isaiah knew what he was talking about when he said, "When you pass through the waters I will be with you." Put out the welcome mat and welcome adversity as a friend and challenge to grow in your relationship, knowing that God is trusting you that you can learn from it. We cannot avoid it, and if we sin there is divine discipline because it comes with the territory. Soli Deo Gloria!
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