Every person suffers to some degree. We may not see it or become aware of another person’s suffering due to the great ability of many to hide their suffering. To bury it and when engaged in conversation or social settings to keep their suffering hidden. Because society doesn’t like to witness or acknowledge suffering. I think in large part, just as an individual attempts to hide their suffering from others, society doesn’t want to see it, hear about it, or acknowledge it just as most refuse to acknowledge and accept death, especially in America, or acknowledge God.

There is always a person around that when we’re around them dwells on their suffering. I’ve had relatives that if told about someone’s great suffering, their spouse died, someone confirmed they had cancer, people involved in a terrible auto accident and of this level without so much as a pause of consideration would come back with, “Oh, that’s nothing, let me tell you about what happened to me!” Saying such because they had a bad time at work, or something ached for a wee bit someplace in their body. I think we’ve all known or do know someone like that.

All the relatives I’ve had like that, a few, have died.

We all suffer to some degree about something. Often more than one thing.

Were it not for physical suffering I am convinced I would not have grown in my spiritual life, my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ as I have. As some know, were I not physically broken down by physical pain and suffering, resulting to this point 10 orthopedic surgeries, 6 of those major ones removing things and adding manmade things, the pain forever altering my life in a physically debilitating and disabling way.

I know some who when confronted with suffering in their lives rage against God. Blame God, Get angry with God. Turn from God. Exhibiting the exact opposite, weak, foolish character that they should.

In the article below Mr. Michael Brown includes verses the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in the church of Rome. I believe these words can’t be repeated or known enough;

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1–5)

Along with this verse I keep within easy view on my desk:

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

We, you, all God’s true people are being tried in the fire for a short time today so that you will shine brightly forever.

It is always how we respond that matters.

Personally, I am convinced were it not for my physical suffering for the past 20-plus years now, living a life totally alien to the one I lived prior to my physical problems and my chronic pain I would not have grown in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, my understanding would be greatly diminished if I had the physical life I once had. My spiritual wisdom and spiritual maturity would not be what it is today were it not for the trails in the fire, and the experiencing suffering as I have. Along with the loss of those in my life who once were friends, were those I knew and had a bond with either by blood or friendship. It all hones us, refines us, and determines the path we take. And that is either closer to God and eternity, or in rebellion, resisting, denying, and becoming bitter and blaming God who only wants each person to see and know His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and make Jesus the Lord of their life through the Supernatural occurrence of the Holy Spirit opening their cold dead hearts and minds to the Way, the Truth, the Life, and the Light. The only way to eternal life.

Don’t get angry. Don’t blame God.

Get spiritual wisdom and comfort, get understanding, see eternity and how suffering can bring one closer to Jesus — Who suffered greater than any person ever has or ever will out of love, being the Supreme Sacrifice for sin to those who faithfully believe and obey — don’t blame God. Come to see and understand and grown closer to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit, and to the whole Word of God, leading us to eternity where all tears, pain, suffering, trials, and tribulations will be wiped away and FOREVER removed.

Fall on Jesus. Fall on the grace, mercy, and faithfulness of God, and allow God and His Word to lift, heal, and shine the way through whatever rials, travails, or suffering this fallen world may place in our way as we walk closer to God and eternity.

If our trials, tribulations, and suffering, our daily pain and woes here on this fallen world lasted 100, 200 years without a moments let up that is nothing — NOTHING — compared to eternity.

Look to heaven. Look to turn to God and prayer and His Word, turn the heart, the eyes, the spirit heavenward in all things. Faithfully believing what is written and known of being SAVED for the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and the true children of God!

No degree or period of suffering no matter how severe or long ought to derail one from this knowledge and living accordingly, no matter how difficult or unrealistic this would sound to a person in darkness, being darkness, of the world without the hope and truth of eternal life in them due to their unbelief and rebellion against God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

It might not be easy, but look at that gold ring on a finger on your hand, that item of silver you may own and cherish. Were it not for refining in the fire those inanimate objects of beauty would not shine and become as valuable and precious in memory as they are.

Come to understand all the more how the refining in the fire is making each true believer to shine brighter in glory with Jesus and all the heavenly hosts — FOR ETERNITY!

God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and prayer have all provided and brought me more comfort than anything else in this fleeting and lost world in constant suffering. This perhaps can only be truly understood when an individual experiences and knows this personally in their heart, spirit, and life. And that is only possible by sincere faith and obedience to God, to Christ, to the Holy Spirit, and to the Word of God. Rather than denying, hiding, lying, or rebelling. Or blaming God who the individual refuses to turn to, trust, and come to know. Like blaming someone living 3 states, or a few countries away for the suffering being experienced. Is that logical? Does that make sense? No? Then why blame God rather than turning to Him and placing trust in Him. Wholly to become more holy and refined in the fire…to come to know God, His Son, Jesus, and the truth better and deeper through our suffering.

One more thing — I feel safe in writing no matter what our suffering may be? Be assured there is someone, if not many suffering much greater than us. Rather than dwell on self? Think about those folks. Even though you may not know them, ever hear about them. If honest in one’s heart we know there are many, oh so many around the world suffering much greater than what most of us are.

Eternity. It’s all about what we do here, what we believe, and how we respond. If needed, reread Romans 5:1-5 and 2 Corinthians 12:9 again. And again. And again…along with all the suffering God endured, all the suffering Lord Jesus Christ endured — not only the physical suffering of crucifixion, but the greater pain of taking on all the sins of all those who come to believe in Him and know Him as their Saviour and Lord of their lives —  so those who believe, who are obedient, who persevere and keep their eyes and hearts on eternity come to know that lasting wonder and joy unspeakable…eternity in heaven, with Christ, with God, with the Holy Spirit, and all those who suffered and endured…

Ken Pullen, A CROOKED PATH, Monday, July 25th, 2022

How Suffering in This World Can Prepare Us for Eternity

July 22, 2022

By Michael L. Brown

Reprinted from The Stream

It is sometimes easy to think that, unless we are winning people to Jesus and playing a direct, active role in world evangelism, we are not bearing fruit for eternity. After all, what is more important than snatching people from the jaws of hell and turning them into citizens of heaven? In the words of missionary C. T. Studd, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

To be sure, the Great Commission is always near and dear to the heart of God. And one way or another, through our praying or our giving or our witnessing or our teaching or our training or our worship or something else, we should be involved in the process of winning the lost and making disciples, even if tangentially.

But we make a grave error if we think that it is only through sharing the gospel with the lost or making disciples that we can bear fruit for eternity. God is looking at far more than that.

To be Like Jesus

Consider first that God’s great goal for each of us as His children is to “be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29). God wants to make you and me like Jesus!

This is only fitting, since He has called us to be members of His eternal, heavenly family. This means that we need to behave like His sons and daughters and look like His sons and daughters. Jesus, our elder Brother, sets the pattern.

That’s also why Paul wrote:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1–5)

Even through the hard times — or, in many cases, especially through the hard times — God is developing our character and deepening our faith. This happens in a unique way only in this world, since in the world to come we will see the Lord face to face and faith will no longer be needed.

Here, on earth, our faith is tried and our character is tested. Honoring Him through the fiery trials helps prepare us for eternity.

Bill Johnson Loses His Wife

Pastor Bill Johnson has helped to articulate this with tremendous power and depth after losing his wife Beni to cancer after years of prayer for her healing. (For those unfamiliar with Pastor Johnson, he is well-known for praying for the sick and for teaching that God delights in healing His children.)

Just three days after losing his wife (she was only 67), Pastor Johnson said from his pulpit, “The level of revelation God gives you will always be equal to the level of mystery you’re willing to live with. And the inability to live with mystery is your resistance to child-likeness. It’s child-likeness that gives us access to dimensions and realms of the kingdom that you can’t get in any other way.”

And these lessons can only be learned in the midst of terrible pain and inexplicable loss. This is when we really trust. This is where our character shines.

He continued, “What I found is there are measures of His presence that you can only find in the valley of the shadow of death. He’s not a vending machine. I don’t get to put in a quarter and get out of it what I want. It’s a relational journey. I’ve experienced His kindness, His miracles at a level I could never earn or deserve.”

We Will Not Have This Opportunity in Eternity: To Love God Through Pain

He added, “I just don’t have the right to reevaluate what He is like because I’ve experienced loss. It doesn’t work that way.”

And he noted that, throughout eternity, enjoying the presence of God, he will not have this opportunity to glorify the Lord while experiencing such deep pain.

He said:

May I never be found critiquing God when things don’t go my way. May I always be found having a heart ready to be critiqued by Him. Is God my friend? He is. But He is my Lord first, and I’ll never have the pain I’m feeling right now in eternity, so in this moment it is a privilege to respond rightly to the Lord of my life with deeper trust and devotion. I will bow before the Lamb on the Throne in awe, and worship Him forever, but never will I have the face to face chance to do that while I’m in pain, so in this moment I choose to do that. When I said yes to Jesus, I gave up my right to fully understand or be in charge of my life.

These are the words of a man whose character has been refined and whose faith has been challenged. They set an example for each of us.

So be encouraged if you find yourself in a deep, dark valley now. As you honor the Lord and worship, not only are you bringing Him glory in the present. But you are preparing yourself to be with Him forever.

You are being tried in the fire for a short time today so that you will shine brightly forever.

It is a good exchange.

Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Revival Or We Die: A Great Awakening Is Our Only Hope