Tag: suffering

If Your Life is Hard to Bear Right Now

By Kathy Pollard

  • Physical suffering
  • Family crisis
  • Financial insecurity
  • Disappointment, grief, anxiety
  • Marriage problems

If, for whatever reason, your life is difficult and you have to gear up just to face each new day, remember the tremendous amount of hope you might be giving others.  Those who know you well, and even those who barely know you, can be encouraged by your example.

If you lack general comfort but you are relying on the Comforter (Romans 8:26,27).

If you lost someone dear but you are leaning on the Giver of Life (John 5:24).

If your tasks are overwhelming but you trust in the promise of rest (Matt. 11:28-30).

If your struggles keep multiplying but your faith is unwavering (1 Peter 1:7).

If your body is weak but you know a better one awaits (Phil. 3:20,21).

If your nights are long but you go on because it is only temporary (Rev. 21:22-25).

Then even though you might feel like you can barely tackle one day at a time, rejoice in the fact that you are strengthening others.  A conversation with you fills others with courage for whatever they might face and lets them see that all things are indeed possible with God (Matt. 19:26).  What good you are doing in the kingdom!  Thank you for your invaluable commitment and faithfulness.  May God uphold you as you continue to encourage others.

black small dog standing next to yellow chrysanthemums
Hang in there, friend!

It’s Not About Me

By Chelsea Pollard

We don’t like hearing this, do we? I certainly don’t. Living in an individualistic world, I often find myself only thinking about, well, me. “I just want to be happy.” “I want to do what I want to do.” “This is inconvenient for me.” Occasionally, I have to be mindful of the fact that it’s not about me.

My husband, Gary, was preaching this past Sunday on 1 Peter 4:7ff. I’d like to share some thoughts on the topic of suffering for a purpose.

“The end of all things is near” (v. 7). Our lives are very short (James 4:14), which is why Peter gave us commands for how we are to respond when coming under fire for our faith. We are to be alert and of sober mind. This means we need to be rational instead of reactionary. When we come under fire for our faith, it’s easier to stoop to their level. If someone is being ugly towards you, it’s easy to be ugly back. As Christians, we need to be calm when dealing with persecution, so that we may pray. This is essential in order for our prayers to be heard by God.

“Above all, love each other deeply” (v. 8). He is emphasizing how important our love for one another is. When we are dealing with persecution, we need to love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and rely on them. Having a strong and supportive church family can make all of the difference for a Christian who is just going through it, whether they are under fire from family, friends, or coworkers.

Offer hospitality and use your gifts to serve others (v. 9-10).  If you can use your words to help others, do so. If you can serve others, do so. Don’t hold back for your family!

“So that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (v. 11).  It’s not about me. It’s about Him! It’s about loving and serving your Christian family so that God may be praised in all things.

Chelsea lives in Bowling Green, KY, with her husband, Gary, and her dog, Bear. Chelsea and Gary have been married for five years (woo!) and Bear was rescued from a swamp. Chelsea works at Western Kentucky Heart and Lung. She enjoys quiet nights in with her husband and playing all the card/ board games she can with family, even if she loses (sometimes).

Revive Me, Week 12– Count Your BLESSONS

Revive Me, Week 12–A Year of Growing Stronger in the Lord

Count Your BLESSONS

Karen Salmansohn came up with the word “blesson.”  She said it means “when you’re able to see the blessing in the lesson that your trial taught you.”  I love this reminder of a very biblical concept!

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

(James 1:2-4)

We serve such an amazing God!  It’s all too easy to count our problems, to wring our hands over trials and disappointments.  First of all, they do exist.  Christians aren’t exempt from experiencing hardships (John 16:33; Psa. 34:17,18).  As long as we’re in this world, we may barely get through one difficulty only to encounter another.  Second, it’s also all too easy to count our burdens because nearly everyone does it.  What’s covered in the nightly news?  What’s trending on social media?  Typically it includes what’s wrong with the world.  And yet, again I say, we serve an amazing God!  While we are surrounded by “trials dark on every hand,” God wants us to KNOW that they are temporary (2 Cor. 4:18), that He will not forsake us (Heb. 13:5), and that good can come from suffering (see several passages listed below).

Jesus lived a perfect life and was the Son of God yet “He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:8,9).

The world points to suffering as proof of an indifferent God or a nonexistent one but Christians know better.  We trust God because we know He loves us, refines us, and works for our ultimate good (Rom. 8:28).  Please remember that, dear reader.  No matter what life throws at you, you can smile anyway because your Creator holds you in His care.

Suggestions for the Week:

  1.  Go ahead and list your problems but then list how you can grow from them.  Do you need refining in attitude or character?  Do you need to increase your faith or trust?  Have you been relying more on yourself instead of God?
  2. Read through 1 Peter, paying close attention to what you can learn about suffering as a Christian.
  3. For personal Bible study or family devotional time, list the spiritual good that can come from suffering or the hope God offers:
    1. 1 Pet. 5:10
    2. James 1:2-8, 12
    3. Rom. 5:2-5
    4. Rom. 8:18
    5. 1 Pet. 1:7
    6. 2 Cor. 5:1
    7. Heb. 12:7-11
    8. 2 Tim. 2:12
    9. Psa. 119:67
    10. 2 Cor. 1:3-5
  4. Bible-mark “Why Good People Suffer”

 

 

Why Good People Suffer (a Bible-marking topic)

Pain and suffering exist.  Does that mean God doesn’t?  Wouldn’t an all-powerful, benevolent God eliminate suffering?  These questions are so important to address.  Nonbelievers claim that the existence of pain and suffering prove there is no God.  They have a hard time reconciling the idea of a loving, compassionate God with the reality of cancer, untimely deaths, horrific crimes, war, and natural disasters.  Sometimes Christians may struggle with doubt as well when faced with tragedy or persecution.

What does the Bible have to say about why good people suffer?  At Higher Ground, we have Bible-marking classes each day.  During the final class, the girls have an opportunity to come up with their own Bible-marking topics.  A couple of years ago, one of the groups chose “Why Good People Suffer,” and below are the verses they shared and their suggestions of what to mark.  This is an excellent topic to have marked in your Bible so you will be prepared to help anyone who wrestles with this question.

(If you are new to this blog or unfamiliar with Bible-marking, please check out previous how-to posts.  You can click on Bible-marking in the tag cloud.)

Why Good People Suffer– James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Box in the words “good” and “Father” and connect them with a line.  Write in the margin, “So where do bad things come from?”  At the end of the verse, write Job 1:6-12.

For the sake of space, the text will not be included here.  Circle the word “Satan” every time it occurs in these verses.  At the end of verse 12, write James 1:2-4.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Underline “joy” and “your faith produces patience” (some versions read “endurance”).  At the end of the verse, write 1 Peter 1:6,7.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Circle “various trials” and underline “genuineness of your faith” (some versions read “proof of your faith”).  At the end of the verse, write Rom. 8:18.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.

Circle “sufferings of this present time” and underline “not worthy.”  Then circle “glory” and underline “shall be revealed in us.”  At the end of the verse, write Rev. 21:4.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

In the margin write, “If we didn’t suffer here on earth, we wouldn’t want to go to Heaven.”

How does our loving and compassionate God feel about pain and suffering?  He wants to wipe it all away, and He will.  That’s His promise.  We may endure trials for a little while here, but we have a promised eternity of pain-free bliss ahead of us.  As Timothy Keller wrote, ““Resurrection is not just consolation — it is restoration. We get it all back — the love, the loved ones, the goods, the beauties of this life — but in new, unimaginable degrees of glory and joy and strength.”

If you’d like to add more verses to this topic, here are some additional ones that help us understand why good people suffer:

  • Rom. 5:3-5- It produces endurance, character, and hope.
  • 1 Pet. 5:10- Any suffering is brief; God’s grace is eternal.
  • 1 Pet. 4:12-19- It allows us to share in the sufferings of Christ.  Suffering as a Christian allows us to glorify God.
  • John 16:33- The world is full of tribulation.
  • 2 Tim. 3:12- All who desire to live godly lives will suffer/ be persecuted.
  • Psa. 119:67- It can cause us to return to the Lord.
  • 2 Cor. 4:16-18- It prepares us for glory.
  • 2 Thess. 1:1-12- It makes us worthy of the kingdom of God.
  • James 5:10,11- It helps us build endurance.
  • 2 Cor. 1:3-7- It allows us to share in the comforts of Christ.
  • 1 Pet. 2:19-21- If we endure suffering for doing good, it is a gracious thing in God’s sight.
  • Matt. 5:10-12- Some suffering is because we wear the name of Christ.
  • 2 Cor. 12:7-10- It causes us to rely on Christ’s grace and strength.

Prayer for Today:  In a world of suffering, may we help others see Your love and goodness.