Can Suffering Be Good?
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
We often don’t pause to consider that God can turn the evil of suffering into a lesson for good, a lesson we can use to grow spiritually. Sometimes suffering in the form of persecution comes simply because we do not want to compromise our faithfulness to the Lord. Many other times it is merely the common pain, hardship, disease, and conflicts resulting from sin’s corruption of the world.
Sometimes, however, God does bring suffering as a means to discipline us when we fall into a pattern of sin. That’s what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in the early church (see Acts 5:1-11). Similarly, God punished some members of the Corinthian church for their flagrant sins (1 Cor 11:29-30).
Whatever the case, you do not have to view suffering as bad. It can teach you kindness, sympathy, humility, compassion, patience, and gentleness. Most important, God can use suffering in unique ways to draw you closer to Him.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 277). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Suffering is not necessarily bad. In our limited view we may see it that way, but in God's infinite, eternal view, there is always a good reason for it. Sometimes we suffer for Christ's sake, because we won't compromise on biblical and moral issues, but to be Christ's followers, we must be willing to deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily (Luke 9:23). Other times the hardships and difficulties we think of as suffering are merely the result of sin in this fallen world. And sometimes God allows or even ordains suffering in our lives as a means of disciplining and teaching us. We may need rebuke and correction for sin in our lives, or God may want to teach us kindness, sympathy, humility, compassion, patience, or gentleness. In any case, at all times, we should trust in the sovereignty of God and view everything He allows as good.
Applications: Look at everything which happens in your life as a part of God's great plan. Trust in God's sovereignty and His goodness, that everything which He ordains, whether joyful or painful, is ultimately for good. From our limited perspective we may not understand the reasons for suffering in the world, but we should seek to learn from it. If you have sin in your life, God may be disciplining you, so that you would repent and return to Him. Or God may be teaching you to show love and mercy to others, as He has shown it to us. God can also use suffering to bring us closer to Him because He truly is the Father of mercy and God of comfort (Isa 66:13).
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would have the wisdom to learn from the suffering I endure in my life and the suffering I see in the world around me. Pray that I would not look to blame God, or to excuse Him from responsibility in suffering, but that I would understand that it is all ultimately in His control and in His plan. Pray that I would be submissive and willing to be used by God for His purposes and that I would obey His commands in fulfilling His plan.
Listen to this entry
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
We often don’t pause to consider that God can turn the evil of suffering into a lesson for good, a lesson we can use to grow spiritually. Sometimes suffering in the form of persecution comes simply because we do not want to compromise our faithfulness to the Lord. Many other times it is merely the common pain, hardship, disease, and conflicts resulting from sin’s corruption of the world.
Sometimes, however, God does bring suffering as a means to discipline us when we fall into a pattern of sin. That’s what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in the early church (see Acts 5:1-11). Similarly, God punished some members of the Corinthian church for their flagrant sins (1 Cor 11:29-30).
Whatever the case, you do not have to view suffering as bad. It can teach you kindness, sympathy, humility, compassion, patience, and gentleness. Most important, God can use suffering in unique ways to draw you closer to Him.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 277). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Suffering is not necessarily bad. In our limited view we may see it that way, but in God's infinite, eternal view, there is always a good reason for it. Sometimes we suffer for Christ's sake, because we won't compromise on biblical and moral issues, but to be Christ's followers, we must be willing to deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily (Luke 9:23). Other times the hardships and difficulties we think of as suffering are merely the result of sin in this fallen world. And sometimes God allows or even ordains suffering in our lives as a means of disciplining and teaching us. We may need rebuke and correction for sin in our lives, or God may want to teach us kindness, sympathy, humility, compassion, patience, or gentleness. In any case, at all times, we should trust in the sovereignty of God and view everything He allows as good.
Applications: Look at everything which happens in your life as a part of God's great plan. Trust in God's sovereignty and His goodness, that everything which He ordains, whether joyful or painful, is ultimately for good. From our limited perspective we may not understand the reasons for suffering in the world, but we should seek to learn from it. If you have sin in your life, God may be disciplining you, so that you would repent and return to Him. Or God may be teaching you to show love and mercy to others, as He has shown it to us. God can also use suffering to bring us closer to Him because He truly is the Father of mercy and God of comfort (Isa 66:13).
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would have the wisdom to learn from the suffering I endure in my life and the suffering I see in the world around me. Pray that I would not look to blame God, or to excuse Him from responsibility in suffering, but that I would understand that it is all ultimately in His control and in His plan. Pray that I would be submissive and willing to be used by God for His purposes and that I would obey His commands in fulfilling His plan.
Listen to this entry
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