Five truths to help every believer find freedom in the suffering we face in our daily lives.
1. Don't be caught off guard with suffering. Don't be surprised with suffering. As long as we live in this mortal body we will experience suffering. We Christians we should Know that it is coming, but also be assured that Jesus has overcome this world.
1Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial (suffering) which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
John 15:18-20 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
2. Accept it as God’s gift. Know that God has a purpose in it and that He has promised to work All things to our good.
Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.
Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
3. Evaluate it and yield to God’s purposes. Don't resist God but yield to Him in suffering. When we submit/yeild to God in present temporal suffering He shows up in supernatural ways.
Job 23:10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
4. Learn to live a day at a time and give your cares to God. Suffering should drive us to the arms of Jesus. Drive us to pray. Drive us to fasting. Drive us to look to Him and only Him.
1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
5. Trust God to turn suffering into eternal glory. We don't understand all suffering but we trust the God who knows everything.
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.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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