Romans 5
New International Version (NIV)
And we[b] boast in the
hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so,
but we[c] 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.
Hebrews 12
New International Version (NIV)
5 And have you completely forgotten this word of
encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s
discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his
children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
. . .
10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but
God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,
however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have
been trained by it.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Daniel’s Thoughts:
Human nature is lazy and we dislike hardship and suffering. But
God does not promise us an easy life, he promises us hardship and suffering that
will work for our good and the good of others. God also disciplines us to teach
us. God gives commands to guide us and then disciplines us when we falter so
that we may share in his holiness.
Let us rejoice then in our suffering and the hardship in our
lives. For they are gifts by God for our good.
I think too often we pray for the wrong things. We pray for the
things we want, we pray for painful events to end or stay away. Instead I think
we ought to pray to God asking for strength to endure. We ought to pray that we
would bring about a harvest of righteousness in our lives and the world by
enduring.
About 2 months ago I prayed to God asking for him to teach me to
endure. God has done so, but not with some instantaneous switch in my brain.
God has been teaching me to endure by putting difficult situations in my
life. My work and my ministry have not flourished as usual. But God has been using that to
center me on him and teach me to endure.
Daniel’s Prayer:
Lord
Thank you Lord
For our future hope
For salvation
And Also
For hardship and suffering
I want to rejoice in you and in all things
I can do all things through Christ
As you give me strength
Please continue to teach me God.
I pray not for an easy life, but I pray for a life that would
Bring me closer to you
And grow in maturity and holiness
All for your glory Lord!
Amen
I think in hardship and loss we attack other people and often God. We say, "God how could you allow this to happen? There is no good only bad in this. You can't be the loving God and allow this" So people turn from faith and turn from God. But we fail to see that God's plans are so much bigger than ours. I don't know how or why God's plans include the death of Aaron Grider at the age of 30 in the first year of his marriage to my dear friend Brittany. I have been mad and heartbroken. But somehow God uses this for our good. God loves Aaron and he loves Brittany even in this. This tragedy makes no sense to me. But I do not know what is best. You do God. I don't understand, but I will try to trust in you in all things.
ReplyDeleteRomans 8:
ReplyDelete18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Our present sufferings are for our good. But they are still not easy. We can endure them by fixing our eyes on Jesus and remembering his suffering and death for us (Hebrews 12). Also we know that as Romans says our suffering now for Christ and in this world is not worth comparing to the magnificence of the future glory that will be in us. Let us rejoice in suffering. In the pain let us stand together in community and lift everything to God in prayer. Let us endure all things through the strength Christ gives us!