Hope in Suffering
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. - Psalm 34:19
We should run from anyone who asserts that Christians who are in harmony with God’s will shouldn’t experience suffering. This is heresy and a perversion of the truth. This is turning God’s design into a self-serving act of sin.
I would suggest that those who consider Jesus the way they should may suffer more than is typical because they can testify to the sufficiency of Jesus in their suffering.
To be sure, for the Christian, suffering should not bring joylessness or hopelessness. It should bring a heightened dependence on God who will care for and deliver us. Suffering should refine our faith and result in praise.
There is more than one form of delivery when undergoing affliction. It could be that God will remove the affliction – we can and should pray for healing. However, it could be that, while staying in the struggle, God pulls us close and increases our faith – we should pray for that too.
It can be scary to think about suffering. Jesus will always care for his children.
Faithful Father, thank you for your promise to deliver me out of all my afflictions. I’m sorry for doubting you when things get rough – you are faithful, I’m not. Thank you for your patience with me and for
Song: Give Me Jesus