Christian Living

Suffering is as certain as Blessings

by S Mariah 
10/13/24
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

Let's talk about the most infamous topic about 'Suffering'. 

We love to hear how God loves us, how God saves us, how God would give us eternal life. Yes, we all prone to love all the 'GOOD' things in life - we love good news instead of the bad. We simply don't look forward to receive anything bad at all. That's in our human nature. But the Bible did promise us that 'suffering' is inevitable, we cannot ignore it, we need to acknowledge it and be ready for any forms of 'suffering' that come our way. We need to get ready for its coming...

God does promise us 'blessings'. The 'blessings' He meant might not be the way how we perceive it. We might interpret the 'blessings' to be a physical one like staying healthy, financial riches and stability. Yes, God said that He is the 'provider' of all things we enjoy. God is the provider. He gives generously as well. However, if we only interpret 'blessings' in a physical way, we might have missed out on the greater 'blessings' which God intended us to know and have -- 'we are indeed blessed to be with God in eternity'. How blessed to be with God forever, how blessed to live with all other angels, singing praises to the Lord on high forever, how blessed to  live a life without turmoil, sorrow or fear....the lists can go on and on when we see it from heavenly perspective!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21:4

In Revelation, God revealed how this world would end and how God's people would suffer because of their love for God and because of God's enemy - Satan, that he hated God's people. The dragon, how Satan wanted to kill the offspring from the woman. We are the offspring. As we read more and more into the Bible, we can clearly see that God has foretold a lot of things to us believers, to prepare us for what is to come. But first, we as His followers need to read and need to know and more importantly, to acknowledge this is all TRUTH and this is a FACT. We cannot just choose what we are yearn to hear in the Bible and simply ignore the hard bits!!!

Jesus said it plainly, 'if they hated me, they will hate you also, since you are my followers.'

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. - John 15:20

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” - 1 Peter 3:14

Jesus often said to His disciples and followers, if anyone follows me, they need to bear up their own Cross - their own Cross of 'suffering'?? Why do we suffer? What should we suffer for? 

I believe it refers to how we bear God's witness, how we bear up the name of Jesus, how we uphold the name of Jesus in this world among non-believers. That's the Cross we will bear in this world. Not that we suffer for what we did wrong!! But we suffer because of what we did right in the eye of God, especially when we declare the greatness of God among non-believers t hat we are mocked and teased about..those are the 'suffering' we bear as His followers on this earth. That's the CROSS we bear. 

For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. - 1 Peter 2:19​

If all we have on this earth is just 'blessings', we really need to make sure we are indeed the followers of Christ. The Bible clearly says that those who bear His name WILL SUFFER for His name.

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. - 2 Corinthians 1:5

We will suffer for His name' sake, unless we abandon our faith, or we denounce our faith in Him. The Bible also comforts us by saying, the holy spirit is upon you, that's why you are suffering for His sake, people on this earth who do not know Jesus as Lord, they are the slaves of sin and Satan, being blinded and so they cannot see the truth of God, they cannot know Jesus. But as for us, the followers of Christ, we are not slave of Satan, our light would shine in the darkness because the holy spirit is in us. Light goes against darkness -- light and darkness, they are the very opposite. They have nothing in common, just as God's people and non-Christians. 

All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. -2 Thessalonians 1:5

Finally, may we who are the followers of Christ be encouraged in our walk with Him, either in suffering or in blessings. He is our Lord God, He is the one we shall honor and worship forever and ever more. To Him be the Glory. We are His people, we bear His name in our body. We will one day be granted to see Him face to face. Let us be glad in it. 

For this world is only temporal, we have an eternal home with the Lord God. Thank you Lord. Strengthen us to love you and follow you, either in our sufferings or blessings. We bless your name. Amen.​