Purpose for suffering

 5 Oct 25

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion


Purpose for suffering

Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. We should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) they remind us of Christ's suffering for us; (2) they keep us from pride; (3) they cause us to look beyond this brief life; (4) they prove our faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. See your troubles as opportunities!


“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Reflections

Typically no one will really say they love suffering and yet in James it was written to “consider it pure joy, whenever we face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬


Perhaps an alternative way to look at suffering is that it is an avenue for learning. It is a way of not just the testing of our faith but also teaching us to lean more to Christ. It is often in our darkest valleys that we realised that we are really nothing. It was never us or our strength for we cannot be or do everything. The valleys are the exact places that humbles us, bringing us down from where we were, helping us to stay grounded. If there were no valleys, perhaps the Lord will give us a thorn in the flesh as Paul has written. A reminder that His grace is enough.


We need a total mindset change on how we view sufferings. A suffering is not much of a suffering if we do not view it as one. If we view suffering as a challenge or a test to reach the next level that brings us closer to God, perhaps we wouldn’t lament or complain that much. 


If you will allow me to just side track a little. Sometimes when we are in those situations and find it hard to navigate through, do speak to fellow brothers / sisters. Our mental, emotional as well as spiritual health are important. Therefore don’t try to do things or everything on our own, or have the thought of no, I don’t want to trouble my friends or no they are also busy, etc. if everyone thinks that way, no one will ever be able to help anyone. Open your heart to receive and not just give, in terms of help as well.

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