Three Things to Consider When Suffering Makes an Appearance

As believers who love the Lord and long to share in His resurrection, we know we must share in His suffering as well. Most of us, though, want to choose the form our suffering will take.

We plan, scheme, beg and bargain to avoid the worst of the suffering. A little bit of hardship is okay, even expected. A brief financial struggle. Minor relationship difficulties. Curable health issues. That’s suffering enough, right?

For some, yes. For others, no. It’s not up to us to decide.  

Suffering Has a Purpose

Difficult circumstances serve a purpose, and we should expect them. But none of us would intentionally bring on or happily welcome serious afflictions.

However, God has a far more reaching view and comprehensive understanding than you and I do. If he allows a tragedy to occur, He’ll not only see us through it, He’ll redeem it for a greater purpose. 

Through whatever suffering we face, God will change us for the better if we let Him. He’ll grow us and refine us. He’ll chip away at our pride, arrogance, selfishness, greed, impatience, and all the rest.

Through whatever suffering we face, God will change us for the better if we let Him. Click To Tweet

God’s Light in the Dark

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be sad or grieve the loss. It doesn’t mean we won’t walk through some dark times. 

But if we look for it, if we wait for it, we’ll begin to see God’s light shine brighter and more persistently, illuminating even in the darkest corners. 

If we look for it, we'll begin to see God's light shine brighter & more persistently even in the darkest corners. Click To Tweet

Over time, we can learn to look for and notice the beauty that will grow out of hardships, in us and in others. (And there can be beauty from even the ugliest situation.)

Consider…

“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man cannot discover anything that will come after him.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14)

So when the dark threatens to push out the light, when your world begins to flip, when suffering takes on a form you would never willingly allow, consider

1. what possibilities await
2. what grace is meeting you
3. what might God have planned for this new challenge

When your world begins to flip upside down, lean into Jesus; consider what God might have planned for this challenge. Click To Tweet

Our own suffering allows us to share in the suffering of Christ. It’s not an easy path to walk, but God will be faithful through it all. 

Our own suffering allows us to share in the suffering of Christ. And God will be faithful through it all. Click To Tweet

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” 1 Peter 4:19  

Reflections: What form of suffering are you currently experiencing? What might God be doing in and through it? What’s the next step of faith you can take? 

It’s been nearly 5 years of counting and I’ve well passed 5,000 gifts in Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare! What a blessing! Here are numbers #5252–5282. Read my entire list by clicking here.