A Balanced Approach to Suffering

Throughout time, God’s people have suffered many things. A study of Church history will give evidence to that. We read in John’s gospel that Jesus said,” We would have trials and tribulations in this life.”

Jesus promised the disciples three things – that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.

– G.K. Chesterton

John 16:33 (AMP)-³³  I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] Jesus also tells us what we should do in times of suffering: Take courage, be at peace, be of good cheer, be confident, and be undaunted, He has overcome the world. If He overcame so can we.

The early Church faced much persecution for their faith in Christ. Acts 14:22 (NKJV)-²²  strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” It was important to draw strength from one another to continue in the faith regardless of what was happening. The ability to rejoice in the power of the Holy Spirit when faced with persecution. We rejoice in the midst of suffering, not for the suffering. For God is always our answer. We need to stay on God’s side. Even when things are hard to understand.

• Acts 5:40-42 (NKJV)-⁴⁰  And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.⁴¹  So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.⁴²  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
• Philippians 1:29 (NKJV)-²⁹  For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

Having the right perspective when facing these hardships is so important. We don’t like to talk about suffering. It is a topic that we steer away from. Having the right balance can keep us from falling off into the deep end. We get into hopelessness, fear, and anxiety. Yet we live in a world as the Apostle Paul says; living amid a crooked and perverse generation. Philippians 2:14-15 (NKJV)-¹⁴  Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, We live in the world where there is sin and evil men, a world full of demonic activity. There is an AntiChrist spirit that is at work against the Body of Christ. No wonder we are to put on the armor of God.

From the scriptures we know that we will suffer persecution for our faith in Christ. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)-¹²  Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. This is one type of suffering. We may also suffer emotionally, and physically at times. Yet we can draw upon the grace of God, stand upon God’s promises, and exercise our faith and trust in Him. Knowing that God will bring us through. If we are honest with ourselves there are times when we get off track and murmur and complain. That is just our humanness. But did you know that you are not just human? You are an heir of God, a joint heir with Christ. ( Rom 8:17 ). A new creation in Christ. You are filled with the Holy Spirit. You have the fruit of the spirit within you. You are more than a conqueror through Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NKJV)-⁷  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;⁹  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed– The Apostle Paul suffered many things at the hands of evil men and even religious people. Yet this was his testimony. The power of God in times of tribulation causes us not to be crushed, in despair, or forsaken by God! (2 Cor 11:23-28 ).

• 2 Timothy 4:17-18 (NKJV)-¹⁷  But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.¹⁸  And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

What do you do in times of suffering? Do you get mad or angry at God, do you stop reading the Bible, or do you complain and whine? Do you stop going to Church? Do you keep asking God why is this happening? Apostle Paul’s advice is much needed. We need to know and continue to know Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit within us that raised Jesus from the dead. Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)-¹⁰  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, In our suffering we pursue the one who suffered in our behalf. Only then will we walk in the victory that Christ has purchased for us. We love the first part of this verse but what about the last part? “The fellowship of His suffering.”

What suffering are we called to? As stated before there will be persecution. Jesus tells us if they persecuted Him they will persecute us. We are not redeemed from persecution. Yet, we are redeemed from spiritual death, poverty sickness, and disease. Christ purchased our freedom at the cross! What do we do? We stand on God’s promises, we submit to God and resist the Devil and He will Flee. (James 4:7 ). We fight the good fight of faith. We don’t accept everything the Devil sends our way. We don’t surrender and say it must be God’s will and He is trying to teach me something. Psalm 34:19 (AMP)-¹⁹  Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. God is still the protector and the mighty deliverer!

There is also a type of suffering that takes place when we choose to walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh. Romans 13:13-14 (NKJV)-¹³  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.¹⁴  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Apostle Paul brings out this struggle in Romans chapter 7. Romans 7:23-25 (NKJV)-²³  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.²⁴  O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵  I thank God–through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Thank God for the Word of God and the Holy Spirit within us. To have supernatural grace to help us through times of this type of suffering. To learn to walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh, our carnal desires. (Gal 5:16-18 ). Christ is our example: 1 Peter 4:1-2 (KJV)-¹  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;²  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Hebrews 12:2-3 (KJV)-²  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

What can we do? Here are eight things we can do.

• We look to Jesus. Looking away from all that would try to distract us. It was joy that He endured great suffering. He saw the other side of the cross-His resurrection. The lives that would be saved. The key to not being wearied and fainting in our minds is looking to Christ.
• We can pray powerful prayers –James 5:13 (NKJV)-¹³  Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. James 5:16 (NKJV)-  Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Acts 4:29-31 (NKJV)-²⁹  Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,³⁰  by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”³¹  And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
• We can rejoice– James 1:2 (NKJV)–²  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, Romans 12:12 (NKJV)-¹²  rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; Praise and worship are powerful in the midst of suffering. It is the grace of God operating in our hearts. 1 Peter 3:14- (NKJV)-¹⁴  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “ 2 Corinthians 7:4 (NKJV)-⁴  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
• We can exercise endurance– 2 Thessalonians 1:4 (NKJV)-⁴  so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, (Don’t quit, don’t give up, don’t surrender to the enemy!). 2 Timothy 2:3 (NKJV)-³  You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
• We can join in –1 Corinthians 12:26 (KJV)-²⁶  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)–  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. To show compassion for one another, to pray together with and for.
• We can take our authority.– Luke 10:19-20 (NKJV)-¹⁹  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.²⁰  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” We need to discern what is of the enemy and what is not. Is it an assault of the enemy attacking our body and mind or outright persecution for our faith in Christ? When to stand and resist and when to endure and trust God for protection and deliverance.
• We can walk in faith- 1 Peter 5:9 (NKJV)-⁹  Resist him, (Devil) steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV)-¹⁶  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Revelation 12:11 (NKJV)-¹¹  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
• We can think eternally- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NKJV)-¹⁷  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Romans 8:18 (NKJV)-¹⁸  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
• We can keep doing good. 1 Peter 3:11 (NKJV)-¹¹ Let him turn away from evil and do good;Let him seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 2:20 (NKJV)-²⁰  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

We understand that some suffering is caused by our own bad choices. Galatians 6:8 (NKJV)-⁸  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. There is a law on the earth of sowing and reaping. So we have to make good choices in life. We need to repent of sin and receive God’s forgiveness. We need to sow to our spiritual lives, keeping our eyes on Jesus. There is grace and mercy for us. God is in the business of healing and restoring. He is the God of the first, second, and third chance. Nothing can separate us from the love of God!

In Closing: There is so much more we could talk about. We need to thank God for wisdom and discernment when we go through trying times. We need to pray and listen to the Holy Spirit in what to do and how to respond biblically.

Acts 16:23-25 (NKJV)-²³  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.²⁴  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵  But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)-¹⁰  Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

In Christ Love;

Brent and Linda

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