#DailyDevotions Freak Your Friends Out. Rejoice In Sufferings Like A Christian

Lent Day 12

Romans 5: 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

 

Now I can think of no statement from scripture that goes against the modern western thinking than this verse. The mantra of today is, “Well you wouldn’t want them to suffer, would you?” But this is the Christian mindset. We are to rejoice in sufferings. Well that’s crazy you say. Well they said Paul’s preaching was turning the world upside down. But perhaps it’s the world that is upside down in its thinking. Not wanting to suffer has brought us abortion, euthanasia and a hosts of other evils. You might even say seeking to escape suffering is one of the root evils. Jesus says if we don’t pick up our cross and follow him we cannot be his disciples.

 

We rejoice in sufferings because of what the Lord is working there in our life for one. St. Paul tells us, it produces endurance, character and a hope that will not disappoint us. It sounds important. Yet we hear impious Christians saying, “If God is going to treat me like this…or I can’t believe God would allow xyz to happen to….” Have they not read the scriptures? Have their pastors not told them to expect suffering because you are a Christian?

 

In 2 Cor. 1:4ff Paul reminds us that our sufferings are participating in the suffering of Christ that we may comfort those who suffer with the comfort we ourselves have received. Christ has taken our illness, sufferings, guilt, and shame upon himself on the cross. But he does not leave them there. He gives them back to us that we may participate in the sufferings so we may also participate in his glory. As the song says, “Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, By the Cross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that thro’ all times abide.”

 

Hebrews reminds us God disciplines those he loves. If he did not discipline us we would be illegitimate children. Yet through this suffering, this discipline we will reap a harvest of righteousness.

Now am I saying we should never take any pain medication to ease human suffering? No.  What I am saying is when we are feeling pain, suffering and sorrow, are we going to accept it from God’s hand or are we going to commit some sin in escaping it? We should instead remember, Lam 3:25-26  The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  (26)  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

 

Heavenly Father, as we experience suffering in our lives, grant us the faith to rejoice in it, remembering your promises as we are found worthy to suffer with Christ that may participate in his glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.