The Power of Suffering
I have yet to meet the person who truly enjoys suffering. I realize that there are some people out there who seem to love to suffer, but my experience with those individuals is that they too are searching for a way out of their pain.
Why is there suffering? I can’t count the times this question is asked of me. I am sure there are a million different opinions on this topic, but my answer to this question is simply, “sin.” I don’t believe that God created suffering; I believe that suffering entered into the world with sin. When Adam and Eve decided to do what they wanted instead of obeying God, sin entered the world and suffering came right along with it.
Therefore all sin is bad, right? No, I don’t believe that either. Many people get confused at this point. Logically, it makes sense that if suffering entered into the world through the pathway made by sin, all suffering should be evil. It’s logical, but the Bible isn’t always logical. (Just look at that love your enemy stuff and you will agree with my last statement!)
This is where Romans 8:28 comes in, “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.” (NIV) God can use suffering for my good, you ask? Yes, absolutely, most definitely! God can use our best efforts, our worst mistakes, and even suffering for our good.
Think about it! When things are going great who do we rely on, God? I don’t think so! We rely on ourselves. Just because we are Christians doesn’t make every thought we have godly! Most people would never admit that they believe this way, but if our actions reveal our faith, who are we really saying we rely on?
Suffering brings us to a state of humility, a place where we look up and say, “God, I need you!” It brings us closer to God. When we are in this state we allow God to have total control, because we just can’t handle it anymore.
Many pastors preach that suffering only comes upon us as a result of sin in our lives. I don’t believe that! Sometimes God allows us to suffer in order to teach us something, to take us to the next level, to have a deeper relationship with him! Sometimes he allows us to suffer so others around us can have a godly example of how to remain faithful to God, even in suffering.
There is nothing wrong with crying out to God to take your suffering away. Personally, I do that on a regular basis. Anytime suffering comes my way, I am crying out to God for him to remove it. Sometimes he does, and other times he doesn’t!
During those times that God chooses not to remove my suffering I am learning to stop wallowing in my misery and truly seek after God. During the few times that I have done it right, when I stop and listen, when I totally surrender, I find God reaching out to me. He wants me to go deeper, he wants me to be less dependent on this world; he wants me to get more of my emotional needs met through him than through other people.
The next time you find yourself suffering, stop and listen for what God is saying to you. I wouldn’t be surprised if you heard him say, “Come closer, lean on me, I love you!’
Johnny Walker is a Christian Counselor and the founder of Family Works Counseling. You can reach him at (770) 456-5547
Why is there suffering? I can’t count the times this question is asked of me. I am sure there are a million different opinions on this topic, but my answer to this question is simply, “sin.” I don’t believe that God created suffering; I believe that suffering entered into the world with sin. When Adam and Eve decided to do what they wanted instead of obeying God, sin entered the world and suffering came right along with it.
Therefore all sin is bad, right? No, I don’t believe that either. Many people get confused at this point. Logically, it makes sense that if suffering entered into the world through the pathway made by sin, all suffering should be evil. It’s logical, but the Bible isn’t always logical. (Just look at that love your enemy stuff and you will agree with my last statement!)
This is where Romans 8:28 comes in, “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.” (NIV) God can use suffering for my good, you ask? Yes, absolutely, most definitely! God can use our best efforts, our worst mistakes, and even suffering for our good.
Think about it! When things are going great who do we rely on, God? I don’t think so! We rely on ourselves. Just because we are Christians doesn’t make every thought we have godly! Most people would never admit that they believe this way, but if our actions reveal our faith, who are we really saying we rely on?
Suffering brings us to a state of humility, a place where we look up and say, “God, I need you!” It brings us closer to God. When we are in this state we allow God to have total control, because we just can’t handle it anymore.
Many pastors preach that suffering only comes upon us as a result of sin in our lives. I don’t believe that! Sometimes God allows us to suffer in order to teach us something, to take us to the next level, to have a deeper relationship with him! Sometimes he allows us to suffer so others around us can have a godly example of how to remain faithful to God, even in suffering.
There is nothing wrong with crying out to God to take your suffering away. Personally, I do that on a regular basis. Anytime suffering comes my way, I am crying out to God for him to remove it. Sometimes he does, and other times he doesn’t!
During those times that God chooses not to remove my suffering I am learning to stop wallowing in my misery and truly seek after God. During the few times that I have done it right, when I stop and listen, when I totally surrender, I find God reaching out to me. He wants me to go deeper, he wants me to be less dependent on this world; he wants me to get more of my emotional needs met through him than through other people.
The next time you find yourself suffering, stop and listen for what God is saying to you. I wouldn’t be surprised if you heard him say, “Come closer, lean on me, I love you!’
Johnny Walker is a Christian Counselor and the founder of Family Works Counseling. You can reach him at (770) 456-5547
posted by Johnny Walker at 10:09 PM
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