Suffering as a believer.
Hey & Happy New Year! We are so glad you’re here and we pray that you are greatly encouraged by this post.
Today, we want to talk about ‘Suffering as a believer’. What does that even mean? Are Christians supposed to go through any form of suffering and how are we supposed to deal with that?
If you are like us or happen to be human in some shape or form (we hope that you are!), you must have gone through or currently going through a difficult period and wondered “Where is God in all of these?” or “Does God even care about me?” or “If He is God, why did He allow this?”
The truth is God cares about you and He cares about you very deeply. Another thing that is true is, we are all going to experience suffering in some form whilst we are on earth. Suffering comes in different forms such as grief, sickness, addiction, feeling stuck, loneliness, rejection and many more but even in the face of the worst blows that life might throw at us, God is still supreme over all and that is the biggest comfort of our lives and we pray that it is yours or become yours too.
Oftentimes, it is misconstrued that once we become believers, we are automatically exempt from the worries of life which often prompt some of the questions above. We become very disappointed in God if things do not go to plan and start to doubt if God was ever for us but Jesus told us about life troubles in John 16:33:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 NIV
Jesus knew that just as he wasn’t exempt from suffering whilst he was on earth, we will not be exempt too but He encouraged us that He has overcome the world. The question is do we really believe that He has overcome the world? Do we trust that God is indeed a good shepherd and He is capable of looking after us? Like David would we say this of the Lord? :
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life” - Psalm 138:7 NIV
Suffering and trials are as old as the human race. No one is exempt and it comes with excruciating pain but we have to recognise that God is bigger than our pain. Throughout the bible, numerous accounts are given of people who went through great affliction and suffering but held on to their trust in God. Let’s have a look quick look at the verses below:
“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” - Psalms 73:26 NLT
“So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] LORD [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
- Hosea 6:3 AMP
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” - Daniel 3:17-18 NIV
What did these people understand about God that made them trust him so much despite their trials? The more we study these stories, we recognise a theme of total surrender to God and His will for their lives. These people trusted God so much that in the face of total chaos David said:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads to quiet pools of fresh water. He gives me new strength; He guides me in the right paths as promised. Even though I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me.” - Psalms 23:1-4 GNT
Researchers and theologians posit that David wrote this psalms while he was grief-stricken and heartbroken possibly due to the war caused by his son’s rebellion. It is intriguing to read these words knowing this man was in great pain but challenging to see the posture of his heart. With great faith, he wrote those words and despite everything he chose to trust God.
You see, we cannot please God without faith neither can we enjoy the comfort He gives without faith. We must trust and have confidence that God exists and He will see us through. Scripture puts it this way:
“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6
Apostle Paul exhorted believers saying “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) but how do we rejoice when it seems like there’s nothing to rejoice about or how do we pray when there’s no zeal to do so?
Truly, the only way to do this is through the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ promised us the Holy Spirit who is always there to strengthen and comfort us:
“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.” - John 14:26 AMP
The Holy Spirit is our comforter, our helper and supreme advantage. How beautiful is it to receive the help and comfort of the Holy Spirit in our time of suffering. There’s nothing like the oil of Joy that the Spirit of God lavishes on us. He draws us close and sings the most beautiful songs over us, reminding us of promises forgotten. Please understand that our call to rejoice in the face of suffering is not one we can do by our own strength, we do not need to hide our pain from God in our bid to ‘rejoice’ as believers.
In fact, God wants us to share every emotion with him. That is true fellowship; therein we fellowship with the Holy Spirit who enables us to rejoice and teaches us to pray amidst adversity. He says to the one with a heart of belief:
“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” - Psalms 50:15 NIV
God is mighty to save and He is so sure of it that’s why He says “I will deliver you”. What a blessed promise! Multitudes of troubled hearts (ours included) have found consolation in this promise and it is available to you too. God invites us to lay our case before Him and it is great wisdom to welcome this offer because He will surely deliver and His name will be glorified.
We are not exempt from suffering and you are not exempt either but we share one hope; an anchor that is ever sure which is Jesus Christ; He is our assurance that will not fail and He is saying to you:
“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]” - John 14:27 AMP
There is peace that surpasses our understanding in Jesus Christ; it is true that we can go through trials and still have peace. It is usually unexplainable because there are just no words for it. We pray for you that the peace we speak of is evident in your life and no matter the pain you are facing, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will wholeheartedly declare that the Lord is the Joy and Strength of your life. Amen.
With so much love,