Christian Living
Have you ever gone through times of trials when you felt you could not take it any longer? When the world came crashing on you and almost everything ceased to matter?
I have!
With so much suffering going in the world, one can wonder whether there is anything good that can come from suffering.
Benefits Of Suffering
Benefit #1: An Opportunity To Know Yourself
Trials test the depth of your character and strengthen that which you believe in. A tree’s roots are made stronger by winds and go deeper due to lack of water. King Solomon says, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.”[1]
Benefit #2: An Opportunity To Learn
During hard times, we are drawn out of our comfort zones thus we can easily learn lessons we would have learnt no other way. The wise man says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.”[2]
Benefit #3: Drawing Us Near To God
It’s during suffering that many are drawn to seek God more. Trials present you a chance to tap into God’s power, comfort and peace. In the end we learn that he is always in control. Thus we can totally trust Him in every circumstance.
Benefit #4: Builds Compassion In Us For Others
God will comfort us in our suffering so we can give comfort to those who are suffering. Our experiences are then not wasted but used to pick others up from where we ourselves were picked up from.
During my university years, I missed three semesters due to financial constraints. It was the hardest time of my life. Amazingly, during that time I wrote two books (yet to be published), did a Bible course, began serving in a ministry that reaches out to students. And most importantly, I learnt to trust and wait on God. He got my attention!
Hard times do leave some people bitter and fearful, but you can determine to always maximize such moments. After all, no one can escape them.
How To Get Through Suffering
#1: Endure to the end
Don’t try any unhealthy shortcuts to get out of your trail.[3] Do nothing that will displease God. After you’ve done what is humanly possible, its time to endure and wait for God to see you through that season. And he will!
#2: God still loves and cares for you
Just because you are suffering does not mean God no longer loves you. He promises to never leave you nor forsake you. In fact, trials show his love for us because it’s through them we benefit most. Maturity is not easy to attain but it’s worth reaching-for then we can enjoy our inheritance.
#3: Do not complain
Rather than complain, confess God’s Word while going through a hard time. The best question to ask is not “why Lord?” but “what Lord? God is always up to something. Let your trust in Him be firm, for you know that at the proper time, He will come and save you.
#4: Think of the joy that awaits
Always remember that after the trial, there is a joy that awaits you. Though sorrow may last for a night, joy comes in the morning. And God desires that you share in his holiness after you’ve been made mature, complete and lacking nothing because you endured to the end.
Friend, the pain you go through anytime cannot compare to the eternal transformation that it will bring. Great accomplishments have been achieved by those who went through great trials. Rest assured that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes.[4]
That, my friend, is the beauty of suffering!
Scripture Reference (NLT)
[1]Eccl 7:3 [2]Prov 20:30 (Good New Bible) [3]James 1:2-3 [4]Rom 8:28
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Thank you for this nice article. God loves us most and He is blessing us this day. Thank you Hirwa.
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