Today as my dad was driving me home from the doctor's office, i picked up
Anne of Avonlea, the sequel to
Anne of Green Gables, and began to read. I got to chapter 4 when a piece of paper fell out of the novel and onto the floorboard. I bent over and retrieved the thin little flyer and examined it. it was just a little announcement sheet given to me at Colonial one sunday a few months ago, and I had written notes on a sermon on the back. Curious, i began to read the points that Pastor Aaron had made on the topic of suffering for Christ.
As I examined this little piece of paper, I began to realize that God has been teaching these things to me lately. Isn' that funny? When you look back on things that you've read before, or taken notes on, you realize they didn't affect you much at all at the time. And God has an interesting way of bringing them back to you at the exact time that you need to hear it. and a light bulb goes off in your head, and you think "oh, i get it."
Why Christians Must Suffer:
1.
Suffering deepens faith and holiness. I had jotted down two Bible verses beside the statement: Hebrews 5:8 and 12:10.
WHen we suffer as Christians, God works in us and we are able to grow. This reminds me of an illustration that Thomas used in a sermon. He explained that scientists tried to grow plants in a perfect greenhouse, where they weren't disturbed by wind, or drought, or animals. they were given the perfect amount of water at the precise time. The only problem was, because of the absence of wind, the roots had no chance to burow into the ground and the plants could not survive for long periods of time nor could they be taken out of the greenhouse without dying. The factors that made the plants
suffer actually helped them grow and
thrive.
2.
Suffering llows us to test and purify our faith. How can we test ourselves if we never are in a real situation outside the comfort of peace? Yes, when we have those mountaintop expieriences, it is great and it God gives us energy and strength, but we need to use that strength when we are faced with hardship and trials. Suffering gives us an oppurtunity to see what we need help with, what we need to work on. if we don't test ourselves, we grow blind to our faults and arrogant in our own ability, which leads to the third point.
3.
We must suffer so we can stop relying on ourselves and start relying on God.
Suffering shows us how small we are and enables us to realize that we can't do it alone. It gives us the oppurtunity to surendur, truly surrender our rights and allow God to rescue us. It is so easy, while in a church setting, to surrender everything for Christ. It is so easy to lay everything at His feet when everything is going good. It is't until we suffer and lose everything that we can test our faith and rely on The one who Can rescue us.
4.
Suffering affects and incerases our future joy.
Suffering allows us to grow in our relationship with God and increases our faith, so that whether the future holds happiness or sorrow, we can have joy. and even if we continue to expierience trials, we can "rejoice in harship" and praise God!
5.
Suffering is what it takes to make others bold.
This is a big one. We often wonder why God puts us through certain trials, and why He makes us suffer so much. But how encouraging is it, when you are going through something difficult and agonizeing, to talk with someone who has been through it themselves? they help you with prayer, and practical advive that helped them out of similar situation. we all have a testimony that help certain perople. I can reach some people in a way that nobody else can because of my trials and how God has shaped my life. And you can reach people i could never reach by what God has done in your life. A wise man once told me that you never know the seeds you plant.
6.
Suffering makes a sleeping church wake up and take risks for God.
I think this one speaks for itself.
Suffering is inevitable, and yes, it stinks. but it allows us the oppurtuniity to bring glory to God, though we may not recognize it at the time.
