The Weapon of Suffering

[jesusisawesome]

For any out there going through a painful situation, I hope this will be of some encouragement to you . . .

In my younger years, I did not understand that pain was my friend and not an enemy, and I did not know how to embrace pain, a lesson I am still learning. I have been like Peter in the midst of pain and trials, not understanding my Christ or His purposes, and like Jonah, running from that which is uncomfortable.

God intended pain to be our friend and not an enemy. The devil wants to use pain as an enemy to bring even greater damage to us and those around us, but that’s not God’s intent at all, and what the devil means for harm, God means for great good. Pain is meant to drive us to the Lord for the correction of that which is wrong, whether in ourselves, or in the people or situations around us.

Although God does not enjoy suffering or seeing people suffer, He allows it in our lives with the greater good and purpose in mind, and His ultimate great purpose in suffering is for lost hearts to be reconciled to Him. When we respond to suffering in Christ-likeness, embracing it, forgiving and loving in its midst, we then become a shining light, and the hardest hearts are melted and changed by a revelation of Him . . . but it is only as we run to Him, rather than away from Him during these painful times, that we can receive His grace to walk in this manner.

We all love to feel good and have the blessings of God flow down, but I now believe that there is no greater weapon in our lives against the forces of darkness, than being able to embrace suffering when it comes our way, trusting and allowing God to work through it in our lives. When we are able to embrace it and submit to the Lord in the midst of it, it becomes a mighty weapon.

The cup of Christ is duo, containing both joy and suffering, and the path of every believer has to at some point include suffering. How we mature as a Christian depends upon our attitude and how well we embrace this suffering.

Through Jesus embracing suffering, the world was radically changed forever. The blessings and joy that flowed down in His earthly life did not have near the same impact as His suffering on the cross . . . what a wonderful, beautiful purpose there was in that suffering.

For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame. That joy was you and me . . . such was His delight in us . . . so incredibly amazing! The sweet fragrance of Christ suffering on the cross washes over us, forever removing every trace and smell of sin. What incredible, unstoppable love!!

We are promised that suffering is only for a night or a season, but there is always a new day that dawns with joy unspeakable and full of glory . . . when we like Christ learn to embrace our own pain & suffering, submitting to God with child-like faith in the midst of it, rejoicing in Him regardless, the end result can be the same as with Jesus on the cross, resulting in resurrection life in our lives and the lives of others. He promises to always be with us and to turn everything for the good, as we allow Him to work in our midst.

[wildwood_]

JIA, thank you for sharing such insights....the Lord is truly our Joy no matter what state or condition we are in! (I wanted to bump your post back up too)