How Do You React To Suffering? - Rom. 8:18
Illustration:Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful, with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my 75 years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my experience, has been through affliction and not through happiness.
Malcolm Muggeridge, in Homemade, July, 1990.
1. Do you know what you would say if somebody were to ask you, "How should we respond to suffering?" Many people suffer in a variety of ways and in differing degrees.
Although, some of us may suffer physically, most us struggle with mental and emotional suffering. Mental and emotion suffering is caused by a variety of factors, but Paul helps us by teaching us how to properly react to our agony with His ecstasy. Occasionally, when a person is suffering from clinical depression, they may need medication.
However, most of us go through daily mental or emotional anguish not being able to react in a way that always pleases the Lord. Maybe you are suffering in a relationship today. Perhaps you are wrestling with a financial struggle. It could be that you are running into a wave of opposition from those you work with. It could be that there is a current spiritual struggle in your family that is deeply affecting everyone.
Or, maybe there is a heavy burden, fear or anger in your heart about some spiritual issue that is troubling you. It could be that there is some unconfessed sin in our lives that is creating a deep feeling of unrest. It could be we have some Jonahs here today.
Maybe you are saddened by the way that society continues to abandon God and Biblical values. Everyone here is somehow suffering in silence.
Instead of praying that God will remove your suffering learn how Paul responded to his suffering.
Illustration:If we consider the greatness and the glory of the life we shall have when we have risen from the dead, it would not be difficult at all for us to bear the concerns of this world. If I believe the Word, I shall on the Last Day, after the sentence has been pronounced, not only gladly have suffered ordinary temptations, insults, and imprisonment, but I shall also say: "O, that I did not throw myself under the feet of all the godless for the sake of the great glory which I now see revealed and which has come to me through the merit of Christ!"
Martin Luther.
2. Paul prayed that God would USE suffering to
accomplish His purposes in, through and with his life. The great apostle realized that suffering is a part of taking up our cross and fully following Christ. Jesus said,
"In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Paul wrote this about his response to suffering,
"I have worked much harder than most, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep. I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food. I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face the daily pressure of my concern for the churches." (2 Cor. 11:23-29)
Paul uses suffering to enhance his credibility, influence and effectiveness so God could use Him in greater ways for His purposes.
Ask the Lord to help you respond to suffering with Paul’s perspectives, optimism and purposeful determination.
Illustration:Suffering is the heritage of the bad, of the penitent, and of the Son of God. Each one ends in the cross. The bad thief is crucified, the penitent thief is crucified, and the Son of God is crucified. By these signs we know the widespread heritage of suffering.
Oswald Chambers in Christian Discipline.
3. Paul teaches us that creation is standing with eager expectations waiting for the glory that will come with the consummation of history. This suggests that while our surroundings may not be what they were created to be we may still be Biblical optimists. Thank the Lord in advance that God is working out His purposes through your hardships. Job said, "Lord, I know you can do all things and no purpose of yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:1,2)
Illustration:At the Nicene Council, an important church meeting in the 4th century A.D., of the 318 delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.
Vance Havner.
4. Paul teaches us that God uses suffering to bring His people and ministries to completion. Sometimes God allows things to get worse so they can get better. Paul wrote, "I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." (Phil. 1:6) Thank the Lord for the ways He is refining you more into a Christ like person, friend, and servant.
Illustration: A. Parnell Bailey visited an orange grove where an irrigation pump had broken down. The season was unusually dry and some of the trees were beginning to die for lack of water. The man giving the tour then took Bailey to his own orchard where irrigation was used sparingly. "These trees could go without rain for another 2 weeks," he said. "You see, when they were young, I frequently kept water from them. This hardship caused them to send their roots deeper into the soil in search of moisture. Now mine are the deepest-rooted trees in the area. While others are being scorched by the sun, these are finding moisture at a greater depth."
Our Daily Bread.
5. Paul teaches us that God uses suffering to teach us to emphasize the positives amidst the negative circumstances of our life. Paul learned how to see through the ironies of the Christian life. He wrote, "As servants, we entrust ourselves to God in everyway: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses, through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report, genuine, yet regarded as imposters, known, yet regarded as unknown, dying and yet we live on, beaten and not killed, sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, poor, yet making many rich, having nothing and yet possessing all things." (2 Cor. 6:4-10)
Ask the Lord to help you adopt Paul’s positive approach to every difficulty.
6. Paul teaches us that the Holy Spirit buoys us up with God’s affirmation, acceptance and deliverance in our suffering. Paul was aware of the promise from Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Ask the Lord to remind you of the fact that He is with you and working to deliver you through any hardship, opposition or problem.
7. Paul teaches us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us giving us greater wisdom, tact and love when others seem to misunderstand our suffering. Have you ever noticed that many people tend to think that other people suffer because it is their own fault. The great apostle reminds us that the Holy Spirit intercedes with groaning too deep for words on our behalf. He renews us mentally, emotionally and spiritually with abundant grace and power.
The Holy Spirit plugs us into the socket of God’s infinite power source. He is the potter and we are the clay. Allow Him to mold and make you after His will while you are waiting, yielded and still.
Thank God for His intercessory help in your greatest times of need.
8. Paul teaches us that the God often affirms His love for us in many ways. The Lord may choose to send along loving friends, family members or displays of His affection when you are suffering. Just when you need Him, Jesus is near. Just when you falter, just when you fear. Ready to help you, ready to cheer. Just when you need Him most.
Illustration;Thank God for the assurance that His love will not desert you or forsake you so that you can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper why should I be afraid." Let us sing, "Have Thine Own Way Lord! Have Thine Own Way! You are the Potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Your will. While I am waiting. Yielded and still!
Conclusion:On a wall in his bedroom Charles Spurgeon had a plaque with Isaiah 48:10 on it: "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." "It is no mean thing to be chosen of God," he wrote. "God’s choice makes chosen men choice men...We are chosen, not in the palace, but in the furnace. In the furnace, beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed; yet here eternal love reveals its secrets, and declares its choice."
W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 223.
