The Ministry of Suffering

“In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering…. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted…. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Hebrews 2:10, 18; 5:8-9).
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2).

By John David Hicks

When you talk about suffering, Christians look at you in amazement. “Suffering? Surely that’s not God’s will for a Christian, is it?”

The superficial theologies of our day teach that only good things, a comfortable life, and prosperity are in store for the man of God. But a realistic look at the world will quickly disabuse us of that notion. To paraphrase the popular book title, bad things do happen to good people. In this world of supposed cause and effect, good is not always rewarded and evil is not always punished. In genuine suffering you are forced to question why, because all theorizing is over and you must make contact with God.

At the very beginning of the Bible, sin entered the world, and along with sin, suffering. Although we tend to think of suffering as physical, it occurs in many different forms. It also comes as conflict, sorrow, pain, dishonesty, drudgery, and death. It comes as financial problems when we don’t have enough to provide basic needs for our families. It comes as conflict on the job, in the church, or among family members. Parents and grandparents suffer when drug addiction takes over a young life. And always there are lonely people who suffer pangs worse than physical suffering.

There are heathen religions and philosophies that encourage suffering-denying the body of all enjoyment. This is not at all the Christian attitude or the mindset the Scriptures call for. We do not glorify suffering for the sake of suffering. We accept and endure suffering because we know that God will use it in our lives.

God loves us, cares for us, and supplies our needs. Yet He also says, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?… Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:7, 10-11).

God will use suffering to produce a harvest of righteousness that results in Christ-like character. So Peter says to “arm yourselves also with the same attitude” as Christ, so that the rest of your earthly life you will not live “for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”

The Bible indicates that Christians are to expect suffering. Even more, God uses suffering for His own purposes. He can make all things, even the worst suffering, work together for His glory. God’s plan in the Incarnation was to deliver us from suffering, deceitfulness, and death, as well as from sin. We do not see the fulfillment of this promise now, but it will take place in the new heaven and earth when God will abolish all suffering.

Remember, even Jesus learned obedience through the things that He suffered (Hebrews 5:8), including in Gethsemane and then on the cross. There is no human agony Jesus has not endured. And He learned from the things he suffered because He met them with the right attitude. God wants us to have a Christ-like character. Suffering will accomplish in you what nothing else can do. God used suffering in the life of Jesus to make Him complete and will use it in our lives to make us complete.

In The Place of Help, Oswald Chambers says, “The finest men and women suffer, and the devil uses their sufferings to slander God. God is after one thing-bringing many sons to glory, and He does not care what it costs us, any more than He cared what it cost Him.”

Job provides the classic illustration of suffering, and he was a godly man. Yet he suffered the loss of his wealth, his children, and his health-everything that was precious to him. Satan tried to use suffering to force a wedge between Job and God. Yet Job’s greatest test was not his trouble, grief, pain, and misery, but the desire to know why he was suffering.

God did not tell him why. It is beyond our comprehension to understand why God allows suffering. It is obvious from the book of Job that Job was not meant to know the reasons for his suffering. He had to face life without an explanation. Job had to live by faith and somehow believe in the goodness and love of God. His statement in Job 13:15 (NKJV) reveals his faith: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” He knew God’s character and chose to trust God, even in his suffering. Job willingly put his life and all he had in God’s hands. It is better to know God than to know what you think are the answers. Without faith in God, many struggle with unanswered questions that produce sarcasm, cynicism, and bitterness.

God does not owe anyone an explanation about anything He does. The unexplained things about life outnumber the explained. God does not justify His decisions to anyone.

When Lazarus was sick and near death, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick” (John 11:3). Jesus seemed to ignore them. What were Mary and Martha to think? In tears and grief, they watched their brother die. They held a funeral and buried him. Four days later, Jesus showed up. In the grief and pain of her brother’s death, Martha said, in effect, “Jesus, I know my brother will rise again at the resurrection at the last day, but that doesn’t explain why it took You so long to come when I sent for You. Why didn’t You respond when I asked for Your help? If You would have only been here, he would not have died.”

If you have ever suffered and questioned why, then you have sympathy for Martha and are aware of the agony of God’s silence and lack of explanation.

“We do not know the preface to our own story any more than Job did; we suffer, and God alone knows why,” Oswald Chambers writes in God’s Workmanship. “It is beside the mark to say that it is because we deserve to suffer; Job did not deserve to suffer for he was a man ‘perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil.’ Neither is it at all satisfying to say that suffering develops character. There was more in Job’s suffering than was required to develop his character, and so it is with the sanctified soul.”

Finally Job was able to come to the place where he could accept the fact that God was not going to explain Himself. More than that, he came to a fuller understanding, through his problems, of the character of God. “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:5). “See” has the meaning here of “know.” In other words, Job was expressing, “Before my suffering, I heard you were a great God and can do anything. Now, because of what I have experienced, I know it!”

For the truth of God to become real it must be tested in experience. Suffering can move you beyond the surface acceptance of truth into a hope and trust in God that brings a new quality of life. Our willingness to accept suffering demonstrates confidence in God’s sovereignty and purifies our faith, producing a deep work of bonding that yields a deep-rooted relationship. When you have nothing else left to rely upon, you have God, and He is all you need.

What God said to Job reveals what He is looking for in our suffering. Job was now homeless, broke, friendless, sick, and in despair. God reminded Job in his suffering of the wonders of nature: the rosy sunrise, fierce storms, streaks of lightning, the variety of animals. Who was Job to question the One who laid the earth’s foundation? God was seeking from Job the same thing He is seeking from you-simple faith, an admission that God is wiser in His ways than we can ever imagine.

Satan’s question to God in the beginning of the book of Job is the same question he is asking about you. “Does Job serve you for nothing?” Do you serve God for nothing? “Or is it because you have been so good to him?” suggests Satan. “Take down your hedge you have put around him and let him suffer. He will curse you to your face.”

Then Satan made “a wager” with God. He bet that Job would preserve his own life at any cost. Satan knew that self-preservation is a powerful principle. Nothing will upset our lives more than pain to our body. Satan continued, “A man will give all he has for his own life. But let him suffer in his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

Satan knew if Job loved his own life he could defeat him. If you gratify your flesh in self-love, you cannot be a Spirit-filled servant of God.

As He did with Job, God can use tragedies in our lives to serve His purposes and to make us more like Him. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:28-29).

Jesus is the “firstborn” of this new race that has been born again. After the resurrection He led the way into glory where we will be co-heirs and reign with Him. God will bring many sons to glory by using all things to conform us into His Son’s likeness.

Suffering also destroys our illusions of self-sufficiency. Have we not all noticed how difficult it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well? Life is good, plenty of food on the table, everyone is healthy. We are good, moral people who live conventional lives. God becomes something like the airbag in the car-we’re glad it’s there, but we hope we never have to use it. We are satisfied with ourselves.

But, when trouble comes, we see how bare our own resources are. We have nothing to hold on to. Our morality reeks and we see there is nothing in our lives to commend us to God. We are forced to our knees to ask for God’s forgiveness, mercy, grace, and help. Throughout history suffering has always purified the Church and the ministry.

But it is also a fact that suffering does not improve everyone. “We all know people who have been made much meaner and more irritable and more intolerable to live with by suffering: it is not right to say that all suffering perfects,” says Oswald Chambers in The Place of Help. “It only perfects one type of person-the one who accepts the call of God in Christ Jesus.” Suffering will make you bitter or better; you choose by your attitude. So arm yourself with this mindset, that it is OK to suffer.

You may travel one smooth road after another, but when the road becomes muddy, if you have chosen the mindset that accepts the difficult times, you will be prepared and not give up. You will keep your eyes on Jesus and trust in His goodness and love even when things look black all around. In this way, God can make all things “work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Acceptance of suffering is a deliberate choice you make before the Lord. You willingly choose for the sake of ministry, others, and the glory of God to bear affliction. In Acts 21:11, Agabus prophesied that Paul would experience hardships and be bound hand and foot in Jerusalem and handed over to the Gentiles. The church pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. “Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.'” Paul had made his choice. Accepting suffering set him free.

Those who refuse to accept suffering will go to any lengths to avoid difficulties. They don’t want anyone upsetting their little world-no disagreements, no deprivation, no “false brethren,” no bad health, and no unhappiness. Determined not to suffer, they are ill at ease with any problem, difficulty, or misfortune. When things begin to get difficult, they back away. Because they give up so easily, their work produces little fruit and blessing. Their commitment is shallow.

Satan has “bet” God that you too will be self-serving and protective of your good life, that you will rebel and complain under suffering. But if you can accept suffering, as Job did, you will be rewarded, in the next life if not in this one. You need to keep your focus on eternal things, not on the temporal things of this world. Those who live for this world are like the passengers on the Titanic. Everything was going wonderfully well; they were enjoying themselves immensely. There was no clue of the disaster about to befall.

This attitude that looks at “my life” as too precious and dear to suffer will be wounded deeply when suffering comes. These are the ones who never seem to recover from past hurts. Years later, they can still shed a tear for themselves and cry “poor me.” When you think that you are unworthy to suffer, you want pity.

When we see the value of suffering, we can endure it with a sense of gratitude to the Lord. Without this mindset, grumbling and complaining will stifle our faith. We become skeptical about the promises of God. That is why we are to offer to God the sacrifice of praise as an act of worship, “the fruit of lips that confess his name…for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:15-16).

A sacrifice is something that is hard to do. If all I had was 10 dollars and I needed it for food, it would be a real sacrifice to give it to you. A sacrifice is not easy.

To praise God in suffering is not easy. Praise always builds faith for it is focused is on God. “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Notice that this does not ask us to give thanks for all circumstances, but in all circumstances. It’s grim to think about giving thanks for some tragedy that has fallen upon our children. God does not expect that of us. But even in the worst of difficulties, we can still give thanks for who God is. We can praise Him for His character, His attributes, and His blessings. Thanksgiving always builds faith because it is focused on past blessing and God’s faithfulness. No wonder it is God’s will for your life.

But even further, James tells us to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). “Consider it pure joy” literally means “jump up and down for joy,” according to William Barclay. Why does James tell us to do this? God is making you complete by developing your faith and perseverance. And this perseverance leads to Christian maturity and wholeness.

Jesus gives us an example of joy in suffering. “For the joy set before him (he) endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3). Jesus endured the agonies of the cross and the hostility of men because of the joy of doing God’s will. He kept His eyes on the goal He was moving toward.

When you lose your focus, you can get discouraged and give up. Focus on your call and vision and the joy will return. Going through hard times and yet keeping joy in your heart is a sign of a person who is close to God.

You cannot control how and when you may suffer. Tough times come to all of us. But you can always choose your response to suffering. Trouble embitters some people, but it doesn’t need to. If your acceptance of problems is based on the sovereignty of God and His love and His acceptance of you, suffering will have accomplished one of its objectives.

Suffering moves us from an inward view of just ourselves to an outward view of others. With an inward view most Christians pray only for their family and maybe some friends. When you pray for others and the world, you get an outward view. Our horizons are expanded. We realize anew how much we need each other and how much we need God. Our capacity for empathy and compassion are enlarged, and as a result our ability to minister to others who are in trouble is increased.

Scripture tells us that we must en ter into the kingdom of God through much tribulation. The apostle John had a very instructive experience along this same line. While he was imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos, God gave John a vision of the saints in glory. This band of believers is radiant in their white robes of purity, splendor, and honor. They are praising God, carrying palms of victory in their hands, and stand nearest to the throne of God and the Lamb.

Looking at these believers, you would think that they did not have a trouble or care in the world with such joyfulness and freedom. But the question is asked, “These in white robes-who are they, and where did they come from?” (Revelation 7:13). The answer is given, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” They were children of sorrow on earth made complete in the school of suffering. They verified the promise of God that those who suffer with Him shall also reign with Him.

How much should you be prepared to suffer? The Bible norm is for us to “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). But if you love your life, you cannot be faithful to the point of death. That is why Jesus’ call to discipleship is to “deny (yourself) and take up (your) cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). To die to self is to experience the very presence of death.

Without such a commitment, you will not stand when difficulties come. When the Christians in Revelation “did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death,” they were victorious (Revelation 12:11). Satan had no power over them. Worldly desires cannot control a person who does not seek to save his own life.

A major trait of a child of God is the ability to suffer. In that ability, the suffering in the natural is transformed into the spiritual and becomes the pathway to sainthood. “Other virtues may be perfected by doing,” Luther said, “but faith, hope, and love, only by suffering, by suffering I say, that is, by being passive under the divine operation” (Operationes in Palmos).

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Peter 4:12-19).

 

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