The test of person’s character is discovered when you’re in the midst of suffering and trials. C.S. Lewis said “suffering is God’s megaphone!” Suffering is the place where God can get a hold of you. We often pray and ask God to change and transform us, however, the only place of transformation is when we pick up our cross daily and follow Him. It is a time when we learn to trust Him and walk in obedience. Graham Cooke used to say, “don’t waste a good trial!”
The challenge is that most of the church in the western culture has removed suffering from their theological vocabulary. In fact, we’re told, God doesn’t want you to suffer, He wants to bless and prosper you. In fact, it has been my experience over the years that those who are truly suffering aren’t necessarily welcome in the church. They are bad publicity. Instead, pulpits are full of messages of hope and blessing that are conditional on the amount of money that one gives. However, like a slick “Ponzi Scheme”, it is only seems to be the one at the top is the one who ever seem to be blessed. The Book of Proverbs calls them clouds without rain; Proverbs 25:14 (ESV),
“Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.”
The fact of the matter is that “suffering” is a necessary component to the growth and development of maturity of a believer. If we do not receive suffering as necessary, you would have to throw out most of the Bible. Much of the Bible is a testimony of the sufferings of God’s followers as they learned in the midst of trials; some brought on by God and others self-inflicted like David. All work together for good. My favorite portion of scripture has become Romans 8. I particularly like verses 18 and 19.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”
Paul then reveals the purpose for our suffering in verses 26-30.
“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
God’s purpose in our suffering is to transform us into the image of His son. What a magnificent plan the Father had, the multiplication of sons of God to reveal His glory in the last days. Those who will love and follow Jesus regardless of the cost. Jesus was our example to follow. The scripture says that He learned obedience through suffering. Hebrews 5:8 (ESV)
“Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”
Most of the followers of Jesus in both testaments had to go through extreme times of suffering in their pursuit of Him. It was never easy or enjoyable but each one learned to thrive even in the midst of it. One incident that comes to mind is Paul and Silas who were in the bowels of a Philippian jail after being beaten severely with rods. We read the account in Acts 16:22-33 (ESV)
“The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
To thrive in the place of suffering is to realize that God is working out His plan to reach someone through your suffering. Worship Him and live in gratitude and praise that He has chosen you to suffer with Him in order for His kingdom to expand. Paul reminds the Thessalonian church to rejoice and give thanks in every circumstance, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)
“18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
The Apostle John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos which was an island for the criminally insane. Instead of wallowing in self-pity for suffering for Jesus (John had previously been boiled in oil yet without effect) John chose to live in the Spirit and received the greatest revelation of the glorified Lamb of God since Isaiah or Ezekiel. Revelation 1:9-16 (ESV)
“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”
James, the half-brother of Jesus instructs the church to rejoice in the place of trials, James 1:2-8 (ESV)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
God has a purpose for the trials He puts us through. It is for the testing of our faith to bring us into spiritual maturity. In this life, we must learn to thrive in Him because of the next life to come. Wade Taylor used to say that “we are training to reign” with Him. He does it because of His great love for us. Learn to overcome your trails by worship, prayer and thanksgiving because we must become over-comers in this life to enjoy the next. Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
No matter the trial, remember, God is for you, not against you! Rejoice during the difficulty and the shackles of oppression will fall off. You will begin to experience the peace of God and the joy of the Lord will become your strength.