Hope In Three Forms of Suffering

1. Suffering for Christ’s Sake

As children of God, we expect to be persecuted in this world, in fact we know we will be because we are promised so in 2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  Jesus said, “you will be hated by all for my name’s sake” (Matthew 10:22).  But in the midst of this abundant suffering, we rejoice and endure because we have had other promises made to us as well.  The second half of Matthew 10:22 reads, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”  (Don’t be discouraged by the conditional phrasing here.  As believers we know this is a guaranteed condition for us because as Romans 8:37-39 says, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And Philippians 4:6 says, “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” And 1 John 1:9 says, ^“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”) In Matthew 5:11-12 Jesus says “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” We know that persecutions are gifts granted to us (Philippians 1:29).  We know that these persecutions are ours in abundance, but so also is our comfort abundant through Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5).  So, if you are suffering for Christ’s sake then get excited! Rejoice!  You have a reward in Heaven!  You are storing up treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:20).  And be comforted because as you share in Christ’s sufferings, you also share in His comfort.  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

2. Suffering as a result of living in a sinful world

Ok, but what about when I’m suffering and I can’t see that it’s from persecution?  What about when suffering comes from disease and heartbreak?  What about when suffering comes as a result of simply living in a sinful world? All suffering could ultimately be traced back to this source, because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  If man hadn’t sinned then we wouldn’t be in a broken world and there wouldn’t be suffering of any kind in the world.  But what hope do we cling to when we can’t see a source to our suffering outside of the fact that we simply live in a broken world?  Our response should still the same.  We rejoice, we cling to the hope of Heaven, the promises made to us for our future, and we endure.  “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).  And who is this completion in? Colossians 2:10 says “you have been made complete in Christ”.  And who lived a perfect life for us? 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Hebrews 10:14 says “For by a single offering Christ has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”  So, our trials of various kinds lead to steadfastness which leads to our perfection and completion, not of ourselves, but in Christ in whom we are being sanctified. 

Other scriptures of encouragement in these times are:

-1 Peter 2:18-19 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

-Romans 5:3-4 We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, (verse 2 of the same chapter reminded us what we are hoping in, “hope of the glory of God.”)

-Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

-James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

-Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

-James 5:11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

-Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

3. Suffering in Discipline

Finally, what about when we are suffering because of our own sinful natures?  What hope do we cling to when God is using painful circumstances or even another man’s sins to show us our own devastating sinfulness?  What encouragement is there for us when we have repented of the sin, but we are still living with the earthly consequences of our sin? As I grow in understanding the amazing perfection and beauty of God, I see the utter sinfulness of me. The more I see of God, the more I see my sin. (Thank you, Lord, for Titus 3:4-7, verses I survive on.) And as He shows me sin, I repent of it, and He cleanses me of it (1 John 1:9). But this process hurts. And when my flesh hurts it so quickly turns to fears and doubts, “Does God still love me? How can I possibly be saved when I fall so short and sin so much?” My friend, if you are in this place, do not give your flesh the opportunity to sin with fears and doubts, but rather cling to Hebrews 12:6-13 “ ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives.’ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” All believers will be disciplined because not one of us has yet obtained perfection (Hebrews 12:6-13; Philippians 3:12).  So rejoice!  The discipline you are experiencing is evidence of your salvation and therefore, evidence of all the promises that are yours in Christ Jesus!  One of these promises is outlined right there in Hebrews 12, His promise of the peaceful fruit of righteousness that is yours if you are trained by God’s discipline.  And how do you be trained by His discipline?  Verse 13 tells you, “Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”

So, what is the answer in all suffering?  Fix your eyes on Jesus, rejoice in Him, and endure, looking to the hope laid up for you in Heaven.

*All Bible quotations are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted.

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