Suffering a privilege? Really? What is it that motivates Paul to say such a thing?
Recently I met a lady who is suffering. She has a little "hole" In her head where they removed part of her brain along with the tumor. Life is very hard for her, in many aspects, but yet she counts it a privilege to suffer for her Lord! She lost her ability to speak in surgery, but God gave it back to her and she uses it to praise and glorify The Lord. She lives to bless others, telling everyone who will listen (and even those who don't) how good God is, and how much He loves each one of us. God is using her in mighty ways.
A friend recently shared this really big thought with me:
It's not about our story, but rather, it's all about His story.
God's perfect will for us does not include suffering. But guess what, He's a big enough God that He can not only sustain us through it, but He can actually bless us and others by it. Contrary to popular belief, we are not on this earth to be comfortable. We are in the middle of the most important conflict of all times. God loves us relentlessly, and He is concerned with our ultimate good, rather than our momentary happiness (though of course He delights in making us happy too).
In suffering, we are given the opportunity to draw nearer to Him, to press in, to be strengthened in a way only possible in the midst of trial. If you ask God for the biggest, best, most incredible blessing He can give you, do you know what He will give you?
His only Son.
Everything comes back to Jesus. Jesus does not only give us good things, but He IS every good thing. Thus, if we have Him, we have all that we need, all that we could ever dream of! So if suffering leads to Jesus, then indeed, what a blessing and a privilege!
"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." (Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)
"For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT)
By God's enormous grace may we not only stay strong in suffering, but may we be blessed beyond our wildest dreams as we allow Him to work out His good purpose in our lives. He is utterly trustworthy, entirely good, and unfailingly loving. We have nothing to fear as long as He holds us. And may we thank Him for the blessing of suffering.
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