The Blessing of Suffering
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
Luke 6:22–23
Charles Spurgeon had a powerful and effective ministry that began while he was still a teenager. There is no question that his incredible gifts and the enormous growth of the church that he pastored were testimony to the work that God did in and through his life. Yet for most of his ministry, Spurgeon suffered greatly from gout and Bright’s disease, and he died at just fifty-seven years of age. The enormous physical pain he endured could have driven him to question and doubt God, but instead it led Spurgeon to trust Him more. He said, “I am certain that I never did grow in grace one-half so much anywhere as I have upon the bed of pain.”
Hardship, affliction, and suffering are not pleasant, but they are often the necessary tools God uses to shape us into the men and women He needs us to be for His work. Each trial offers us an opportunity to learn more of God’s grace and depend more fully on Him for our needs to be met. The Christian life is promised to be victorious, but it is never promised to be easy. In addition to realizing that our hardships can be used by God, we must also remember that they are not permanent. Psalm 30:5b says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” There is a day of joy and victory coming for every believer who is faithful even during times of testing and tears.
Luke 6:22–23
Charles Spurgeon had a powerful and effective ministry that began while he was still a teenager. There is no question that his incredible gifts and the enormous growth of the church that he pastored were testimony to the work that God did in and through his life. Yet for most of his ministry, Spurgeon suffered greatly from gout and Bright’s disease, and he died at just fifty-seven years of age. The enormous physical pain he endured could have driven him to question and doubt God, but instead it led Spurgeon to trust Him more. He said, “I am certain that I never did grow in grace one-half so much anywhere as I have upon the bed of pain.”
Hardship, affliction, and suffering are not pleasant, but they are often the necessary tools God uses to shape us into the men and women He needs us to be for His work. Each trial offers us an opportunity to learn more of God’s grace and depend more fully on Him for our needs to be met. The Christian life is promised to be victorious, but it is never promised to be easy. In addition to realizing that our hardships can be used by God, we must also remember that they are not permanent. Psalm 30:5b says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” There is a day of joy and victory coming for every believer who is faithful even during times of testing and tears.
Today’s Growth Principle:
When times of suffering come, do not allow yourself to question God’s love and care for you.
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
—Psalm 27:14
When we “wait” on God, we are not being lazy or passive, but we are actually being very active spiritually. We may not be “doing” anything, but we are trusting God to do what needs to be done. In effect, we are saying, “Lord, I will not try to do this in my own strength. I will wait on You to deliver me. And I’m going to enjoy my life while I wait for You.”
Satan wants us to be frustrated from trying to solve our own problems. He hates our joy. He wants to see anything but joy, because the joy of the Lord is our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10). Worry robs us of strength, but joy energizes us.
We are tempted to think we are not doing our part if we don’t worry or try to figure out an answer to our problems, but this will prevent our deliverance rather than aid it. It is not irresponsible to enjoy life while we wait on God and expect Him to do what we don’t know how to do!
Do not fear because the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s.
Waiting on God
by Joyce Meyer - posted February 06, 2016Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
—Psalm 27:14
When we “wait” on God, we are not being lazy or passive, but we are actually being very active spiritually. We may not be “doing” anything, but we are trusting God to do what needs to be done. In effect, we are saying, “Lord, I will not try to do this in my own strength. I will wait on You to deliver me. And I’m going to enjoy my life while I wait for You.”
Satan wants us to be frustrated from trying to solve our own problems. He hates our joy. He wants to see anything but joy, because the joy of the Lord is our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10). Worry robs us of strength, but joy energizes us.
We are tempted to think we are not doing our part if we don’t worry or try to figure out an answer to our problems, but this will prevent our deliverance rather than aid it. It is not irresponsible to enjoy life while we wait on God and expect Him to do what we don’t know how to do!
Do not fear because the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s.
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