Purpose in Suffering

To Be Like Jesus
Pages 221-223

Another way many believers have been deceived is by the idea that they shouldn't have to suffer. After all, as Christians, we should have lots of money, success, and no worries, right? Not necessarily. Jesus never promised an easy life.

On the contrary, the Scriptures teach that it is impossible to become like Jesus -- to be holy -- apart from suffering. Because we don't understand the necessity and value of suffering, we are often more concerned about getting relief from our pain that about discovering the pure fruit God wants to produce in our lives through the pain.

37. The lie: I shouldn't have to suffer.

The Truth: It is impossible to be holy apart from suffering.

You see, God is far more interested in our holiness than in our immediate, temporal happiness. There is a depth of character that cannot be produced in our lives apart from suffering.

Jesus Himself, during His years here on earth, was in some unexplainable way made "perfect though suffering" (See Hebrews 2:10).

The Truth: We have been called to suffer.

Acts 14:22, "strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.'"

1 Peter 2:21, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps."

The Truth: True joy is not the absence of pain, but the presence of the Lord Jesus in the midst of the pain.

Psalm 23:4, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

Pondering the Truth

If you came to the Lord and asked Him to live in you and be the Lord of your Life, then you are saved. If you somehow got the idea that by doing it, your problems would all go away and you would be relieved of your circumstances, then you have wrongly believed.

The Truth is that Jesus now shares your burdens, and He provides a way for you not to worry about your circumstance. He shows you the wise choice that you should make in order to live peacefully, and even in victory, in the midst of your storm.

1 Peter 5:10, "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."