Here is one way to remember: 5 R’s (or if it helps, just pick three and try to remember them). It may be a personal failure or disappointment in your job or school work. Christians still suffer as we wait for Jesus to return, but none of our suffering is random or without purpose. It is designed to build our trust in the Almighty, but suffering requires the right response if it is to be successful in accomplishing God’s purposes. In fact, our suffering is a sign of God's love. Why me? 32:3-5; 119:67). Reward: Suffering is working for us a great reward in heaven that will make up for every loss here a thousandfold. This means trust, peace, joy, stability, biblical values, faithfulness, and obedience in contrast to sinful mental attitudes, blaming, running, complaining, and reactions against God and people. Regardless of the reason God allows suffering into our lives, rarely does it not reveal areas of need, weaknesses, wrong attitudes, etc., as it did in Job. The church is not meant to be a loosely bound association of functional Lone Rangers. Evil and suffering can sometimes make people question their religious beliefs. 12:6). 1:6—“distressed” = lupeo, “to cause pain, sorrow, grief”). Suffering Is Mysterious and Pervasive. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. If we are going to endure suffering and the trials of life, however, we must also understand and believe in the other purposes and reasons for suffering as they are related to the chief purpose. The purpose of suffering as a Christian PLEASE NOTE: This article is not really about suffering in general and it probably wouldn’t be helpful to someone facing sickness, bereavement, breakdown of relationship or the other kinds of pain which can afflict us in life. It involves unknown sin, areas we may not be aware of, but that are nevertheless hindering our growth and fruitfulness. It is good to have a way to remember some of these so that, when we are suddenly afflicted, or have a chance to help others in their affliction, we can recall some of the truths God has given us to help us not lose hope. (1) We suffer as a testimony, as a witness (2 Tim 2:8-10; 2 Cor. The desired goal is increased fruitfulness (John 15:1-7). No matter the reason, even if it is not God’s discipline for blatant carnality, it is a purifier for none of us will ever be perfect in this life. If we are going to emulate our Savior, we have to identify with … So, it is understandable that the Christian heart would cry out in suffering, “Why?” since we don’t know most of the micro reasons for our suffering — why now, why this way, why this long? Indeed an emphasis on suffering pervades the Gospel of Mark where, it can be argued, we are shown how to “journey through suffering” (Ditzel 2001) in the image of the “Suffering Son of … 1 Peter 4:19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. As a process, it takes time. 4:16). (4) We may suffer persecution because of our faith—especially when we take a stand on biblical issues, i.e., suffering for righteousness sake (2 Tim. 1:2-4; Ps. “For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son He receives” (Heb. 11:28-32; 5:1-5). If we want to find the meaning of suffering, we should only look upon the cross. Suffering itself is not the thing that produces faith or maturity. Romans 5:3-4 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; James 1:3-4 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. God has promised us many things, but He has not promised us immunity from suffering in this life. Suffering is designed to cause us to walk by God’s ability, power, and provision rather than by our own (2 Cor. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Suffering forces us to turn from trust in our own resources to living by faith in God’s resources. Regardless of what we know and how hard we apply the principles, it is going to hurt (cf. 4:12-13; 1 Pet. In Jesus’ announcements of suffering the Christian understanding of suffering is clearly expressed: suffering is not the final aim and end in itself in the realization of human destiny; it is the gateway to resurrection, to rebirth, to new creation. 1 Pet. 12:9, 10; John 9:3). Instead Lewis’s conviction that suffering can lead to humility is tied to grasping that Christians worship Jesus Christ, and as the 19th century writer George MacDonald (whom Lewis quotes in The Problem of Pain) commented, “The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His.” Suffering allows you to feel. Suffering requires the right response if it is to be successful in accomplishing God’s purposes. Suffering provides opportunity for God’s glory, our transformation, testimony, and ministry, etc. 119:71, 92; 1 Pet. 7:14). Suffering is an individual's basic affective experience of pain or distress, often as a result of one’s physical, emotional or spiritual circumstance (Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy 2006). (2) We suffer because of our own foolishness. Essay text: Although theologians have suggested that Mark was written to strengthen the resolve of the early Christian community (Halpern 2002, Mayerfeld 2005), the underlying moral is not lost on a modern reader grappling with multifarious challenges regarding faith in the face of suffering. b. Evil and suffering can sometimes make people question their religious beliefs. What are these bends in the road that God puts in the path of life that we are to carefully consider? A Need for Brokenness. To glorify God before the angelic world (Job 1-2; 1 Pet. . The Search OF the Savior: Why Jesus Came, Part 2 (Gal. (1) We suffer because we live in a fallen world where sin reigns in the hearts of men. 4:1 [The Hebrew of this passage can mean, “You have enlarged, made me grow wide by my distress”]). (3) We suffer to keep down pride (2 Cor. 5:8). (See reasons for suffering given below.). No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”. Suffering in itself does not remove the impurities, but is a tool God uses to cause us to exercise faith in the provisions of God’s grace. This idea receives its clarification from the Christian understanding of sin. (Romans 8:28). Suffering at the hands of people (persecution, violent treatments) is used of God to “fill up the measure of their sins.” It shows the evil character of those who persecute others and the justice of God’s judgment when it falls. It may be the illness or loss of someone close to you. (6) Suffering is a Purifier. (7) We suffer to manifest the evil nature of evil men and the righteousness of the justice of God when it falls in judgment (1 Thess. We have been given the privilege not only of trusting him but also of suffering for him. Of course, all of these do not apply at the same time. Christianity believes in a benevolent God who created the universe and all things in it. (2) We suffer to develop our capacity and sympathy in comforting others (2 Cor. When it is possible, suffering is to be avoided. Suffering or trials teach us the truth of Psalm 62:1-8, the truth of learning to “wait on the Lord only.”. Hampton wrote many articles for the Biblical Studies Foundation and on... More, Happy New Year: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives, 4. In August of 2001 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and on August 29th, 2002 he went home to be with the Lord. Suffering is a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives. Why now? The Apostle Paul saw his thorn in the flesh as an instrument allowed by God to help him maintain a spirit of humility and dependence on the Lord because of the special revelations he had seen as one who had been caught up to the third heaven. It is only a tool that God uses to bring us to Himself so we will respond to Him and His Word. The macro purposes of God in our sufferings include: Repentance: Suffering is a call for us and others to turn from treasuring anything on earth above God. It is true, however, that rarely does suffering not reveal areas of need, areas of weakness, and wrong attitudes that need to be removed like dross in the gold-refining process (cf. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; (Romans 8:28-29), (4) Suffering Proves (tests) Us. The Purpose of Pain We all experience pain, and even suffering at some time in our lives. What is God doing? 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