Suffering - God's Gift of Love
We have an unspoken expectation that a
GOOD God will bring only what we consider to be GOOD THINGS into our
lives. We never expect Him to ALLOW and perhaps even BRING difficulty
into our lives. But He does . . .
Lamentations 3:31-33For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.
What does this mean? No suffering for
God's children? No. It means no MEANINGLESS suffering. If God has
allowed suffering into your life, it is for a purpose. A good
purpose. A holy purpose.
The world tells us to run from
suffering, to avoid it at all costs, to cry out to heaven to take it
away. Few of us would CHOOSE to suffer.
We don't simply ENDURE suffering but
rather we LEARN from suffering.
Hebrews 5:7-9During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
When you groan because there are no
words for the hurt, when you cry out to God with hot tears, when you
agonize over his plan that has caused you such pain, look at Hebrews
5:7-9 and see that Jesus understands! He understands what it is like
to cry out to the Father, who has the power to make another way,
enact another plan . . . but chooses not to.
Why has God allowed so much suffering
in your life? Ultimately, the purpose is not to disfigure you for
life but to mold you into a person who thinks and acts and looks like
Christ.
James 1:2-4
Holding on to Hope: A Pathway Through
Suffering to the Heart of God
Nancy Guthrie
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