Why we Suffer

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Intro

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Suffering, Pain, Affliction, Hurt, Loss.... These are all things as Christians we know more than enough about, these are the things that shake our faith, the things that we struggle with, the things that make us sometimes make us wonder, why me? Would God really to this? Why now? The things that maybe make us turn our heads away from God when they are happening.
But, maybe sometimes, just maybe, these are the things that give us hope, maybe even make us turn and tune our heads more towards God. Maybe, just maybe these are the things that define our faith, the Faith that when trials, and hurt, and suffering and loss come, that we choose to stand up, and not let these sufferings and losses break us down, but we let them build us up, and allow God to use them to make our Faith stronger, and, maybe even more real.
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Come along with me, as we learn how to take our hurt and suffering and use it to make us stronger.
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Causes of Suffering

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The ultimate cause of suffering is Sin

Genesis 3:14–19 ESV
The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
It need not be the result of particular sins:
john 9:1-3

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him

Job 5:6–7 ESV
For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.
Romans 5:12–14 ESV
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

Suffering as a result of Human Wickedness

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Murder -
Genesis 4:8  Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
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Hatred -
Psalm 109:3
They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.
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Jealousy -
Genesis 37:4 ESV
But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
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Persecution -
Daniel 3:4–6 ESV
And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”
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Cruelty -
Psalm 71:4 ESV
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
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injustice -
Genesis 39:19–20 ESV
As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
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Suffering as a result of misfortune

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Accidents -

4 Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

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Sickness -

After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim

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Natural disasters -
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16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

What the cutting locust left,

the swarming locust has eaten.

What the swarming locust left,

the hopping locust has eaten,

and what the hopping locust left,

the destroying locust has eaten.

Suffering through old age and death

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34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

23 Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her

Suffering though Anxiety

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25  Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad.

Suffering through foolishness

Some were fools through their sinful ways,

and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;

14 The wisest of women builds her house,

but folly with her own hands tears it down.

Wise man builds his house upon the rock story
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Suffering through Satanic activity

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Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

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Suffering brought about by God himself

All suffering comes within his will
Jn 9:3; Eph 1:11
Some suffering is for his immediate glory
​John 21:19 ESV(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Jesus Christ’s suffering produces salvation
​Isaiah 53:10 ESVYet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
See also Ac 2:23
Christian suffering produces good fruits
Ro 5:3–4; 2 Co 1:9; Heb 12:11; Jas 1:2; Jas 1:3
God’s people must be disciplined
​Hebrews 12:7 ESVIt 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?
See also Ex 32:35; 2 Sa 12:13–14; Ps 119:67; Ps 119:71; Pr 3:11–12; Heb 12:8–11
The wicked must be punished
​Romans 6:23 ESVFor the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
See also Ge 6:5–7; Jn 5:14; 2 Th 1:8; Re 9:4; Re 20:15
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Suffering accepted voluntarily

By Jesus Christ
​1 Peter 2:21 ESVFor to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
See also Is 53:3–5; Is 53:10; Lk 9:22
By his people
​2 Corinthians 12:15 ESVI will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
See also 2 Co 4:10–12; Php 3:10; Heb 11:35
For the good of others
​John 15:13 ESVGreater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
See also Ro 5:7; Phm 18
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Causes of emotional suffering

A sense of injustice
​Psalm 119:53 ESVHot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
See also Job 19:7; Ps 82:2
Frustration
​Job 19:8 ESVHe has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.
See also Job 23:8–9; 1 Th 2:18
Loss
​Genesis 27:34 ESVAs soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!”
See also Ru 1:20–21; Pr 5:11–14; La 1:12
Bereavement
​2 Samuel 18:33 ESVAnd the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
See also Ge 23:1–2; Ge 37:34–35; Ge 50:1–3; Ex 12:30; Dt 34:8; 2 Sa 19:4; Mt 2:16–18; Je 31:15; Jn 11:32–35
Childlessness
​Genesis 30:1 ESVWhen Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!”
See also 1 Sa 1:4–8
Parting from loved ones
​Acts 20:38 ESVbeing sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
See also 1 Sa 20:41; 2 Ki 2:12; So 5:6–8
Spiritual loss
​Luke 13:28 ESVIn that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
See also Jdg 2:4; Mt 25:11
Great fear
​Genesis 45:3 ESVAnd Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
See also Ge 20:8; Ge 32:7–8; Ex 20:18–19; 1 Sa 17:24; 1 Ki 19:3–4; Is 21:2–4; Da 5:8–9; Lk 21:26
Guilt
​Matthew 27:3–4 ESVThen when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”
See also Ge 3:8; Jn 16:8; Ac 2:37; Heb 10:2; Heb 10:22
Emotional suffering in the Lord’s work
Jesus Christ’s suffering
​Isaiah 53:3 ESVHe was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
See also Mt 26:38
The apostles’ suffering
​2 Corinthians 11:28–29 ESVAnd, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
See also Ro 9:1–4; 1 Co 15:31; 2 Co 1:8–9; Ga 4:19
Expressions of emotional suffering
Sadness
Ne 2:1–3; Ps 107:39; Ps 116:3; Mt 26:22
Weeping and groaning
​Jeremiah 9:1 ESVOh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Joseph wept as he saw his brothers again:
Ge 42:24; Ge 43:30; Ge 45:1–22 Sa 15:30 Covering the head and going barefoot were also signs of sorrow; Ezr 3:12–13; Ne 1:4; Ps 6:6–7; Ps 32:3–4; Ps 137:1; Is 15:5; Je 14:17; Mt 26:75 Peter wept bitterly after disowning Jesus Christ; Jn 11:35
Anger
​Jonah 4:1 ESVBut it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
See also Ex 32:19–20; 2 Sa 6:8; Re 16:10–11
Bitterness
Ex 17:3; 1 Sa 30:6; Job 3:1; Job 7:11; Jon 4:3; Ro 3:14
God’s response to the emotional suffering of believers
He comforts them
​2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESVBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
He has delivered them through Jesus Christ
​Isaiah 53:4 ESVSurely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
Jesus Christ gives them rest
​John 14:1 ESV“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
See also Mt 11:28–30; Jn 14:27
There is no suffering in heaven
​Revelation 21:4 ESVHe will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
See also Is 35:10; Re 7:17
The proper response of believers to emotional suffering
Assessing the problem before God
Ps 73:16–17; Ps 119:78; Ro 8:28
Controlled emotion before God
Jdg 20:23; Ps 22:1–2; Ps 62:8; Ps 74:1
Prayer
​Hebrews 5:7 ESVIn the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
See also Ge 18:22–25; Ge 32:9–11; Nu 16:22; 2 Sa 12:15–17; Ps 38:9; Ps 77:1–9; Jon 2:1; Mk 5:22–23; Jas 5:13
Continuing to do what is right
Job 1:20–22; Eph 4:1; Php 1:27
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Nature of Suffering

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Since the beginning, we as humans have suffered in many ways, as we have now seen and taken a look at.
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Suffering began with the fall
Ge 2:17; Ge 3:16–19; Ro 5:12
Suffering is universal
Job 5:7; Job 14:1
Different kinds of suffering
Physical pain and illness
​Genesis 48:1 ESVAfter this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
See also 2 Ki 20:1; Job 2:7; Ps 42:10; Mt 8:6; Mt 17:15; Lk 4:38; Ac 28:8; 2 Ti 4:20; Jas 5:14
Emotional stress
​Psalm 55:4–5 ESVMy heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
See also Ge 35:18 “Ben-Oni” means “son of my trouble”; Pr 12:25; Jn 11:32–35; Php 2:27
Spiritual suffering
​Psalm 22:1 ESVMy God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
See also Mt 27:46
The prospect of death
​Genesis 3:19 ESVBy the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
See also Ec 12:7
Major causes of suffering
The disorder in creation
​Genesis 3:17 ESVAnd to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
See also Ge 12:10; Joe 1:4; Mt 24:7; Ro 8:22; Re 11:13
Human cruelty
​Psalm 54:3 ESVFor strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah
Murder:
Ge 4:8; Ex 1:16; Ex 1:22; 1 Ki 21:19; Mt 2:16
​Genesis 49:5–7 ESV“Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
Oppression:
Ex 1:11; Am 2:6–7; Am 4:1; Mal 3:52 Ki 6:25; 2 Ki 19:17 warfare; 2 Ch 10:13–14; Job 1:14–15; Job 1:17; Am 1:3; Am 1:13; Jas 5:4–6; Re 6:4
Family troubles
​Psalm 27:10 ESVFor my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
See also 1 Sa 1:7; 2 Sa 16:11; Job 19:14–19; Mal 2:14; Mt 10:36; Jas 1:27
Old age
​Psalm 71:9 ESVDo not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.
See also Ec 12:1–7
Satan’s activity
​1 John 5:19 ESVWe know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
See also Job 1:12; Job 2:6–7; Lk 13:16; 2 Co 12:7; Re 2:10; Re 20:7–8
Aggravations to suffering
Memories
​Job 29:2 ESV“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,
Fears
Job 3:25; Heb 2:15
Resentment
​Job 2:9 ESVThen his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”
Sin and suffering
They are not necessarily related
​John 9:3 ESVJesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
See also Job 2:3; Lk 13:2
They are sometimes closely related
​Romans 1:18 ESVFor the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
See also Ge 6:5–7; Nu 14:33; Dt 28:15; Ps 107:17; Eze 23:49; Ac 5:5; Ac 5:10; Ro 1:27; 1 Co 11:29–30; Jud 7; Re 2:22
God’s final judgment
​Matthew 25:41 ESV“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
See also Da 12:2; Mt 8:12; Mk 9:48; Is 66:24; Re 20:15
Effects of suffering
Hardness of heart
​Revelation 16:9 ESVThey were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
See also Ex 7:22; Re 9:20–21
Repentance
2 Ch 33:12; Lk 15:17–18
Blessing
​Psalm 119:71 ESVIt is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
See also Is 38:17
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Suffering of Believers

Believers must expect suffering
Jesus Christ foretold it
​Matthew 10:22 ESVand you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
See also Mt 10:17; Mt 23:34; Mt 24:9; Lk 21:16–17
The apostles foretold it
Ac 14:22; 2 Ti 3:12See also Php 1:29; 1 Jn 3:13; Re 2:10
The experience of the OT shows it
Ro 8:36; Heb 11:25–26; Heb 11:32–38
The experience of the NT shows it
Ac 4:3; Ac 5:40; Ac 9:29; Ac 12:1–3; 2 Co 11:23–29; Ga 3:4; 1 Th 2:2; 1 Th 2:14; 1 Pe 4:4; Heb 10:32–34
Suffering for Jesus Christ is commendable
​Matthew 5:10–12 ESV“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “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.
See also Ac 5:41; 2 Ti 1:8; 1 Pe 2:19; 1 Pe 3:17; 1 Pe 4:12–16
Suffering is profitable
It affirms believers’ adoption
​Hebrews 12:7 ESVIt 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?
See also Jn 15:19; Jn 17:14; Ro 8:17; Ga 6:17; 2 Th 1:4–5
It is the price of godliness
​Hebrews 12:11 ESVFor 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.
See also Ps 119:67; Ps 119:71; Is 38:17; Jn 15:2; 1 Pe 1:6–7
It is a condition of service
2 Co 4:10; Col 1:24See also Ps 126:5–6; Ac 9:16; Ac 20:23–24; 1 Co 4:9–13; 2 Co 1:3–5; Ga 4:19; Php 3:18; Col 2:1; 2 Ti 1:11–12; 2 Ti 2:3; 2 Ti 2:10
It develops trust
​2 Corinthians 1:9 ESVIndeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
See also 1 Pe 4:19
It develops character
​Romans 5:3–4 ESVNot only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
See also Heb 5:8; Jas 1:3
It deepens fellowship
​1 Corinthians 12:26 ESVIf one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
See also Ro 12:15; 2 Co 1:7; 2 Co 8:2; Ga 4:14–15; Ga 6:2
It draws believers to the Lord
Php 3:8; Php 3:10See also Job 42:5; 2 Co 4:8–10; 2 Co 12:9–10; 1 Pe 4:13
It prepares believers for heaven
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Sermon on Suffering by Ed walker, 2017

Hope keeps Suffering from Overpowering our Joy

Jesus suffered like no other. Not only did he suffering pain and humiliation—the perfect Son of God (who never sinned), allowed the sins of the world—every sin that every person ever committed—to be placed on him.There even came a point that the perfect unity He enjoyed with the Father was affected.However, Jesus knew the plan of God to save people—He knew that through this selfless act of sacrifice, God would be glorified. He knew that all who would believe would be saved and transformed.This is hope—it is our hope. By faith in God’s amazing grace of forgiveness and mercy, we have hope. When we discover all that Jesus did for us, we have hope.When we realize that even in the midst of suffering, that maintaining hope in Christ de-powers suffering.With this hope, we can rejoice—no matter what! Why?Because, with this hope we can know that God is for us and not against us.Because, with this hope we can know that we are in the presence of God.Because, with this hope we can know that no weapon formed against us can prosper.Because, with this hope we can know that we can stand—and when we have done all we can do, we can still stand—in the knowledge that God and His glory is our chief aim!Romans 5:3–5 ESV3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.​

The Holy Spirit can turn Suffering into Victorious Living

Caution: This point can easily be misunderstood or misused.Jesus experienced horrendous suffering—but He knew that through His suffering, the Holy Spirit would provide salvation to all who would believe.In Paul’s description of suffering, he identified how suffering can, with God’s grace, become a positive, productive influence.Suffering can produce endurance.When we live by faith—and experience the challenges of life—and we trust God through those experiences—our faith is strengthened. Strong faith endures—because of trust is not in ourselves, or other people, or our circumstances—our trust is in God alone.God loves us—and His love will sustain us—even when all seems lost!Endurance can produce character.As we trust God and build faithfulness, our core character changes. We don’t just exercise faith, we become faithful—trustworthy—committed!Character can produce hope.As we live by faith, we begin to see God grace in action, our hope is strengthened.So, no matter the circumstances, challenges, hardships, and pain—hope sustains us—because we keep our eyes—not on our suffering, but on God’s promises.Hope can extinguish shame. Everyone of us have experienced defeat. It is all too easy to lower our heads in shame. But then there is God.When we hope in the Lord, shame can no longer hold us down!​Isaiah 40:31 NIV31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.As Jesus faced the Cross—faced humiliating insults—faced the lacerations of the whip—faced the ugliness of everyone’s sin—he also faced this blessed assurance: through the cross, victory was won!It is all too easy, however, to look at our suffering, to look at our shame, and resign ourselves to the pit.The shame of habitual sin.The shame of experience abuse.The shame of being told you are a failure.The shame of wrestling with doubt or fear.But, Jesus took that shame, and nailed it to the cross—and you bear it no more! (Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Oh, my soul!This is God’s love demonstrated—in spite of our shortcomings—he loves us —and that love changes everything!
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