The Transformative Power of Suffering

Larry’s notes of suffering.

When Suffering Is Redemptive: Stories of How Anguish and Pain Accomplish God’s Mission (The Mission of God Defined)

As God’s children we are the instruments used to forward His mission. Sometimes we are unwilling, shunning the very thing that will move His redemptive purpose forward. That “thing” is suffering. Redemptive suffering illustrates that the believer’s suffering should be viewed as an unparalleled opportunity to witness to God’s goodness, justice, grace, and love to a world that is both believing and nonbelieving. I would suggest that God is on mission through the lives of all who “suffer for His sake,” because “it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). However, that suggestion is much easier to make than to accept and apply when severe tragedy, suffering, or disability invades our lives. Redemptive suffering hears from individuals who have discovered how to live out the mission of God in such challenging times.

When Suffering Is Redemptive: Stories of How Anguish and Pain Accomplish God’s Mission The Mission of God Disclosed in Redemptive Suffering

Redemptive suffering comes from men and women who have found the courage to tell their unlikely stories of participating in God’s mission in their suffering, “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Col. 1:24, ESV). To be sure, there is no deficiency in the work of Christ on the cross for our salvation. Rather, “filling up what is lacking” refers to the ongoing suffering of believers who exemplify Christ in and through that suffering for the sake of moving forward the mission of God and His gospel. As God’s image-bearers, the authors in this volume see their genuine need to be brought to a place of loving obedience to God’s plan. They accept that this plan, which cannot be improved or bypassed, includes suffering. In fact, His Word says, “It has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” (Phil. 1:29, ESV).

When Suffering Is Redemptive: Stories of How Anguish and Pain Accomplish God’s Mission The Mission of God Detailed: The Sufficiency of Grace

Grace for the believer is sufficient in both blessing and in adversity. Why? Because the Lord is present with the one receiving grace—whatever form it may take.

When Suffering Is Redemptive: Stories of How Anguish and Pain Accomplish God’s Mission The Mission of God: Personal Lessons

The biblical evidence shows that the mission of God is often founded on the personal life and experience of the one who believes in and trusts the Lord even during intense suffering.

Gordon Fee’s commentary on 2 Timothy.

2 Timothy 2:3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

Timothy will need to be strengthen’s by God’s grace in order to endure suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

2 Timothy 3:11–12 “my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

The false teachers are avoiding persecution by avoiding living godly lives. Their end is destruction while the godly will have eternal glory.

2 Timothy 4:17 “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”

God may not rescue humanity from all earthly forms of suffering, but he will rescue humanity from the evil one and bring humanity into eternity with Him.

Personal Notes -

Tanner’s Story -