Response to Suffering
Often times when bad things come our way we tend to grow restless and ask God “why me” and complain about everything, but is that how we really should respond? Our response to suffering and especially un-just suffering really show what kind of person you are, and more importantly, what kind of Christian you are. Let’s dig in to how we should react to suffering!
First of all, when suffering, if it feels unjust examine yourself and ask these three questions… 1) is this God’s rod? Is this his hand of correction or direction? Did I do something against him? Have I strayed? 2) Is this Satan’s thorn? Now this is the fun bit, you know your doing something right if Satan is throwing his fiery darts at you! If you are in Gods family you’re his enemy, if you’re in gods will, you’re in Satan’s cross-hairs and at that point sometime all you can do is rely on God’s power to help you through! 3)is it my cross? Is it my burden to bear? Do I lay this down before Christ or is it even mine to lay down in the first place? Often time we take up other people’s burdens when I reality we should be pointing them to Christ who can lift any burden! Bring your burdens to the cross of Christ and walk away lighter!
Now when Paul and Steven for example, were persecuted and going through hard times they exemplified precisely what I want to put across here. Steven was preaching the gospel and told a vision he had of Jesus standing at the right hand of God when the crowd dragged him outside and stoned him to death! Just before he died, with his final words he prays for their forgiveness! There was no cursing or yelling, just, “forgive them father, they know not of what they do.” Now this goes to show that sometimes God will deliver you from your struggles but also, he may not. Sometimes he will use you as am example for others! Good or bad.
Paul, well Paul went through a lot of things from snake bites to being stones almost to death, but they left him there to die, which he avoided but anyways… Paul was once named Saul, his job description was pretty much to hunt down and capture or kill any Christians, or “People of the way” and God turned him completely around. God redeemed him and can do the same any of us! When Paul was put in jail he didn’t sit there with the pouty lip and say why me, he sang praises to God. He said it was a blessing to suffer for God! He always got back into his work and never let the lies of the world get to him!
So, remember, god’s rod? Satan’s thorn? Or my cross? My response to whatever situation shows the world around me what kind of Christian I am. Am I really trusting God? Am I laying my burdens down at his feet? Do I turn the other cheek? Respond like Steven, forgive.
