Suffering

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope….”  Romans 5:3-4

I don’t like suffering. Who does.

Scripture, however is very clear…and honest…that suffering is a part of life.  I suppose, compared to many, I haven’t suffered much.  But I do know that all of us suffer in our own way.  There are things in all of our lives that we would like to have changed; the reality is that most of them are up to God’s perfect will as to whether they will change or not.  Some of these things produce irritation; some produce downright anguish.

Some may see Paul’s words in the reading above as putting a positive ‘spin’ on suffering.  That's not it at all. God, working through these words, puts a God blessing on suffering.  So we are taught that suffering leads to endurance, character and hope.

I have known some tremendous people that are filled with endurance, character and hope.  And none of them have been strangers to suffering.  And it’s not that God brings on the suffering, the world we live in is inherently filled with opportunities for suffering. But we are reminded scripture tells us that “ we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (visit Romans 8:28)

In the good times and the bad.  In the rejoicing and in the suffering.  God is good.