Suffering Brings Hope
Posted By Joe on January 27, 2010
The topic of why God brings about suffering has risen to the surface again with the tragedy of Haitian earthquake. While I, in no way, wish to casually dismiss or try to briefly explain it all away, I do wish to present a small, Biblical snapshot of suffering.
In Paul's letter to the Romans, he gives reasons for suffering and tribulation. He begins his argument that when you become a Christian, you are justified before God through faith in Christ. This gives us the ultimate hope that we will be with Him for all eternity.
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; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. --Romans 5:3-5.
So the outline of this is:
- Tribulation, which leads to ...
- Perseverance, which leads to ...
- Proven character, which leads to ...
- Hope.
It's taken me nearly 40 years to learn this simple lesson. I'll be honest. I think I just barely reached #2! The past few years have been hovering around tribulation. I'm not saying that I've arrived. I'm nowhere near that point. But God has brought me through a really tough period to where I can see points 2 and 3 which has given me a renewed hope.
What about you? Where are you on the scale? Does it fluctuate for you?
May He Increase!
About the author
These bad things happened to you because I intend to work it together for your good (Romans 8).
These happened so that you would rely more on God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1).
This happened so that the gold and silver of your faith would be refined (1 Peter 1).
This thorn is so that the power of Christ would be magnified in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12).
God cannot make plain all he is doing, because there are millions and millions and millions and millions of effects of every event in our lives, the good and the bad. God guides them all. They all have micro purposes and macro purposes. He cannot tell us all of them because our brains can’t hold all of them.
Trust does not demand more than God has told us. And he has given us immeasurably precious promises that he is in control of all things and only does good to his children. And he has given us a very thick book where we can read story after story after story about how he rules for the good of his people.
As usual, well-said. Thank you, Ike!