The past three articles have provided Scriptural insight into suffering. We now have discussed the causes of suffering and reasons for suffering (these articles can be found in archives under Understanding Suffering: Part One, Two, and Three and under June, July, and August 2008). Once we have grasped these principles, there is still one lingering question. How do we endure suffering?
When suffering and understanding why we suffer, what must we do to endure it? Well first we must keep in mind that God punishes unrepentant afflicters. “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8).
How do we know that God will correct our suffering? First of all, according to the above verse, we must keep in mind that this correction may not take place until the second coming or until our death. We may not escape the suffering with our life. In those instances we must trust God (1 Peter 2:21-25). He has proven himself to be true to His word so consistently throughout history, we must not doubt Him.
It is hard to do that. Is there anything we can do in this life to make it through? Yes. First we must think of heaven. “Keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). Also, “consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). When ever you suffer think about heaven. Think about how great heaven must be if all our sufferings will be worth it when we walk into the presence of Jesus Christ. Oh, how I long to go there. Sometimes when I suffer I long for an escape; that is to go to heaven. Other times, I get excited about what it means. Heaven is going to be amazing and it will never end.
However, we are week and at times we are not strong enough to be heavenly minded. It is at those times that we need to passionately pursue Christ. For “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 affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). When suffering, seek Christ and He will comfort you in the midst of suffering. It is for this reason that Peter was able to fall sound asleep while awaiting execution (Acts 12:1-6) and Paul and Silas were able to sing songs of praise to God after being beaten and thrown in prison (Acts 16:22-25). If you seek Christ, He will provide you the comfort to get through the suffering.
Now Jesus knew that even with the above items, we still would need something more. There is strength in numbers. For some reason, having some people who are supporting us and helping us provides much comfort and strength. There is something about having someone physically present with you that is so comforting, a thing that Christ will not provide until we are with Him in heaven. Jesus intended this and is why He inspired Paul to say, “But now there are many members, but one body…and if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:26-27). It is for this reason that Paul would ask fellow believers to come and be with him while he was in prison (Colossians 4:10-18; 2 Timothy 4:9-15).
Are you suffering? What do you do? When you suffer in the future? What will you do? First we must seek Christ and fellow believers for discernment as for the cause of the suffering. As said before, if the suffering is caused by our sin then we should repent. If caused by the sins of others, we should confront as well as seek strength and comfort from Christ and fellow believers. If it is caused by the fallen world (i.e. natural disasters and such), we should long for the return of Christ and humble ourselves because we contributed to this fallen world. If caused by our godliness or spreading the gospel, continue to live holy and share the gospel seeking strength and comfort in Christ and in the Church. In all these things, pray to the Lord for strength and request that he remove the suffering as well as using the medical knowledge that God has provided for us. Keep in mind that he does not always remove the suffering (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Once you have determined the cause and responded appropriately and suffering still persists, then keep the above principles in mind. Remember that God avenges us, trust in God, keep your mind on the eternal, and pursue Christ and fellow believers for comfort. We can endure our sufferings.
