Recently a non-fiction book I was reading made me so mad I was ready to throw the book! Typically I throw books across the room when they venture into legalism or forget suffering is part of life. I notice and throw books like this one and others like it because I recognize these same traits in myself all too often. I don't need anything to help me feed these tendencies. My perfectionism still roars all on its own and wants me to believe if I just do everything right, then everything will be OK and will work out in a way I define as good for me and my family. This desire for perfection tempts me to call the wrong things suffering, to minimize my actual suffering, or to deny that something I am facing is suffering.
Rather than throw the book, I made an impassioned list of all the ways we see God at work in our suffering. When we ignore, deny, or minimize our suffering, we miss these opportunities to see God at work. I was amazed at how long my list got and how many things I continued to add to it as I went about my day. GOD IS AT WORK IN OUR SUFFERING!
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| Our iris bulbs from Aldis are blooming! The details astound me! |
Before I share the list, I do want to add two caveats. First, this is my list of the ways I have seen God at work in suffering. It is not intended as a list of reasons why God allows suffering. We aren't given a clear or complete answer to the question of why this side of heaven. Rather like Job, we are called to trust the God of all wisdom and knowledge: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7). No reason I can understand with my limited, earthly perspective will ever be sufficient to explain why Oliver died so young. But I can trust in the God who is faithful and is with me in my struggles. I can look at all God is doing in the suffering and be amazed. I can know that when I get to heaven and see with clear eyes, there will be a reason (or maybe I won't feel the need for one anymore). All will be more than sufficient and will cause me to praise God all the more for the mighty work He has done in our lives. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:31-32: "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32). And again in 2 Cor 4:17-18: "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
My second caveat would be that sometimes what is comforting to one person is not to another person. Or what is comforting in one season is not in another season. I surprised myself when I reread my initial list because it was comforting for me to see a list of ways God is at work in suffering, while in the past the same list would have been frustrating, disappointing, and sorrowful. My pain in losing Oliver was so great, words couldn't comfort. Maybe that is where you are today, and that is more than OK.
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| I wasn't sure if they were going to make it after after this cold snap! |
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| For the longest time I thought these were daffodils that had survived but missed their chance to bloom. Turns out I was wrong! |
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| They were irises and needed more time! |
And so with no further ado, here is my list of ways God is at work in our suffering:
1. When we suffer, we are participating with Christ in His suffering. This is how God works.
Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participated in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
2. God's character is revealed in our suffering. God is proved faithful, present, steadfast, all-powerful, kind, forgiving, patient etc. when we need Him the most.
Psalm 86:11-13 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.
3. God uses suffering to produce godly character in us.
Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because we know that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
4. In our suffering Christ comforts us so that we might comfort others.
2 Cor 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
5. In our suffering, God gives us the gift of hope.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
6. God is the one at work within us in our suffering with His resurrection power. He is the only one who is able.
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
7. God keeps us safe in His shelter during suffering, not any efforts on our part.
Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
8. God's power is made perfect in our weakness.
2 Cor 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
9. Suffering proves our faith genuine and results in praise for our Savior.
1 Peter 1:6-7 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
10. Ultimately, God uses our suffering for good.
Genesis 50:20 (Joseph to his brothers when they are afraid he will repay them for selling him into slavery) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
11. Suffering creates a longing for Heaven
Hebrews 11:13-16 All these people (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Sarah are mentioned in Hebrews 11:1-12) were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had an opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
1. When we suffer, we are participating with Christ in His suffering. This is how God works.
Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participated in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
2. God's character is revealed in our suffering. God is proved faithful, present, steadfast, all-powerful, kind, forgiving, patient etc. when we need Him the most.
Psalm 86:11-13 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.
3. God uses suffering to produce godly character in us.
Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because we know that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
4. In our suffering Christ comforts us so that we might comfort others.
2 Cor 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
5. In our suffering, God gives us the gift of hope.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
6. God is the one at work within us in our suffering with His resurrection power. He is the only one who is able.
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
7. God keeps us safe in His shelter during suffering, not any efforts on our part.
Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
8. God's power is made perfect in our weakness.
2 Cor 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
9. Suffering proves our faith genuine and results in praise for our Savior.
1 Peter 1:6-7 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
10. Ultimately, God uses our suffering for good.
Genesis 50:20 (Joseph to his brothers when they are afraid he will repay them for selling him into slavery) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
11. Suffering creates a longing for Heaven
Hebrews 11:13-16 All these people (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Sarah are mentioned in Hebrews 11:1-12) were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had an opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
In our lives when we find ourselves in the midst of suffering, we can cry out to God in our desperation, and He will meet us there. We don't need to try to cover up the suffering as if this "imperfection" in our lives needs to be handled on our own. Rather we can trust that God will do the work in our suffering and use it for our good and His glory. With eyes full of tears but open wide, we can watch God at work in our lives and respond with gratitude for all He has done and continues to do. What ways have you seen God work in suffering that you would add to my list?
Thank you for this blog. It has been a blessing to me as I walk through my grief.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting. It is encouraging to hear the blog has been a blessing to you.
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