May 5th

“Suffering” 



Pr. Silvana

- To suffer = to experience physical or mental pain or distress; to be in a very bad situation that makes things very difficult  for you. (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English) –

-It’s to endure agony, anguish, hurt, misery, torment, sorrow, heartache, tribulation, anxiety…

Why do people suffer?

-Causes of suffering:

-1. We can suffer because of others (what other people do to us; external situations that don’t depend on us; when people around us or family members hurt us or do wrong things against us) – John 16.33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

2. We can suffer because of ourselves (what we do/make: our sins, mistakes, wrong choices, or when we don’t do what we should do) –   I Tim. 6.9: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and  harmful  desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.”; James 1.14-15: “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

3. We can suffer because of the Gospel (For Christ’s sake, for the Kingdom of God) -          II Cor. 1.6, 2.4: “If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.”; II Tm. 2.3: “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”; I Peter 4.13, 5.9: “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”

Romans 8:35-39 – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

When facing suffering…

1. Find out the source (the reason) of suffering. If it’s because of others, be patient and pray; never complain, murmur, grumble. - Rm. 12.12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

2. If it’s because of yourself, your own mistakes, repent and confess to be forgiven and be humble to accept the consequences. - I John 1.9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

3. If it’s because of the Gospel, for God’s sake, endure suffering knowing that’s temporary and be thankful – I Thes. 5.18: “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Rm. 5.3-5; 8.18: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us; I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ”