Suffering to hope

We all go through tribulations at times. It happens to all of us. The Bible in different versions uses different words for tribulations one of which is suffering. Jesus was very clear to us in John 16:33 that in this world we would have many troubles. Some versions say many trials and sorrows, but the truth remains the same. We are going to have issues that will come against us in life. It happens in all avenues of life. For the child maybe someone takes their favorite toy, for the adult perhaps you have a close friend betray you. For the child maybe your favorite cartoon stops airing, for the adult something happens and you lose your retirement. No matter where we are in life, it happens. Many times we can't control what happens to us in our lives, but what does the word say that God's design for these things are in our lives? We know the Word says that all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purposes, but how do these things work together for the good in our lives?

Romans 5:3-5 "3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 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."

Now this is a hard group of Scriptures to embrace! Not only am I supposed to know that somehow God is working things out for my good through sufferings, but this says that we are to "glory" in our sufferings! Glory in our sufferings? You mean when people you trust hurt you and prove to be untrustworthy you are to glory in that? You mean when your car breaks down and your finances seem to be dwindling and you don't know what you're going to do next that you are supposed to glory in that? How does that make any sense at all?!!!!! Well let's look at the text. It says that ultimately suffering by God's design will produce perseverance, character and in the end hope that is not misplaced. Now although this is God's design we know that this isn't always what happens.

Jesus addressed this very thing when talking about the seed and the sower in Matthew 13.

Matthew 13:20-21 "20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away."

So although God's design is that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope if we are not prepared beforehand we have the tendency to fall away instead. Now, I would say that we could all agree that times of suffering can be a turning point or a point of falling away. Some people come through suffering with a stronger faith in what God can accomplish and some fall away from the faith they once had growing in their lives. So how do we set ourselves up for success when suffering comes? If this has the potential to be such a turning point in our lives how do we maximize the chances of us coming out of it better and not bitter? How can we ensure that we are not only surface plants but that we have roots dug in and are here as children of God for the long haul?

First off I can't talk about suffering and perseverance without speaking of Job. We all know Job and what he went through. In a short amount of time he went from being wealthy to having nothing, to having much family to having almost no family, from having health to being incredibly ill with nagging injuries. As a matter of fact everything in his situation was nagging. Sudden nagging poverty, left with nagging loneliness, as far as family went he had a wife saying that he should curse God and die, and nagging pain in his body in the form of boils. This guy went from having everything awesome to everything miserable, but we know in the end he is known for his patience and the hope he had clung to.

You look through the book of Job and you see a short cast of "friends" who are trying to help Job through this time of trouble. Now you need to remember that the whole reason any of this thing happened in the first place is because God brought Job to the attention of the enemy. God in heaven in

Job 1:8 says "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

So this is what God is saying about Job from heaven. When God does allow Job to go through a time of testing and trial Job's friends can't figure out what could have happened and so they begin saying that Job must have done something wrong. "You must have done something Job.....think! What did you do? Until you get right with God this is what's going to happen..." So while the righteous judge in heaven is saying Job is upright the people of earth are trying to find fault. These types of friends aren't helpful in situations like this.

We do find one who stands up against them all and only wants to proclaim God's goodness regardless of circumstances. He addresses Job's attitude regarding the situation instead of the situation itself. He talks about God's righteousness being great and the majesty of the Lord. This friend's name is Elihu. In times of suffering and turmoil you don't want investigators standing by your side, but someone who is close to the Lord. Someone who is looking at things in terms of the spirit! You need one who isn't going to let the circumstance dictate where their focus is. This type of person will help pack the soil around the root instead of trying to dig it up looking for more dirt on you.

Another key point to getting through these times can be found in Job 19.

Job 19:25-27 "25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,

And He shall stand at last on the earth;

26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,

That in my flesh I shall see God,

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

And my eyes shall behold, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!"

Job says everything is falling apart, but I know that my Redeemer lives and after this is all over I will be with Him! In the time of turmoil and distress you don't need a hundred different theological thoughts to hold on to. Notice Job isn't holding on to doctrines of healing and prosperity at this point. With his strength drained and life seemingly falling apart at every seam he is holding on to one thing and this one thing is what will get you through as well. He has embraced the truth that God lives and that he will be with Him! When everything is hanging by a thread the root that will take you through to the end is this same truth. When all comes against you advice from 20 different people isn't going to help. Reading all sorts of books about the issue you're facing may give you a strategy, but in the end knowing that Jesus lives, that he ever liveth to make intercession for you and that not only do our hearts yearn for Him but His yearns for us will get you through developing that perseverance, character, and holding on to a hope that never fails! Always remember that the hope we have is our hope in Christ and Christ never fails.

Be blessed with right friends, a right spirit, and grow as God has intended!