We've all felt it: the agonizing pain of the


 world... the shadowy recesses attempting to 


obscure the light. 


It doesn't take much to be taken aback by


how devastating life can be. In times of 


adversity, it's natural to wonder, 


"Why?"

Even those of us who have experienced the


 blessings of God have sometimes wondered


why individuals who bear no guilt 


are unfairly demonized, oppressed, and 


persecuted?



Have you ever wondered, at times of great


 suffering, why the wicked prosper while 


the good, decent, noble, and righteous suffer 


so severely?


Have you ever asked yourself, why does 


sorrow and anger have to exist?


We may think we're entirely alone when we 


are in agony. We tend to feel powerless and


 ineffectual. We may believe that God is not


 there when we most need Him.


One might question how a just God could 


allow such tragedies to happen.


How could God, who loves us so deeply,


 allow pain into our lives?

God permits,



but God does not cause, 



suffering.

 Nothing happens without God’s permission. 


Even the devil has to seek God's permission.

Evils perpetrated by humans with evil intentions 


are brought about... not by God's will, but only 


by God's permission. 


Satan was granted permission, by God, to take 


Job's family, fortune, and health. However, God


 would not allow Satan to take Job's life (Job 2:6). 



Satan is on a short leash, acting only within the


 boundaries set by God. And all wicked deeds are


 the same in this regard. The sinner can only go


 so far before being dealt with by God.


God uses challenging circumstances in 


order to help us recognize our need


 for Him and dependence on Him.



We must realize that life, both bodily 


and spiritual, is entirely dependent on 


what God provides. Our reactions to 


adversities show what is in our hearts, 


or what truly inspires us. Humiliation 


demonstrates what is truly present. He


 causes us to suffer in order for us to


 become conscious of our own needs.

 


He is testing us to determine if we 


would live by faith, relying on 


Him to provide our needs. He 


wants to see if we will adhere to 


His commandments... even when 


disregarding them will meet a need.



Things happen to believers so that 


we might have attributes of intellect,


 character, and heart that we would 


not otherwise have. We can carry


these attributes beyond the grave and 


into God's Kingdom. 



In John 15:5, Jesus states, 


"Without Me, you can do nothing." 


Only by joining forces with God


 in His plan, as we continue on our journey, 


can we yield the fruits of God's Spirit.


During his saga, Job came to that realization, 


which led to deep repentance for his foolish


 questioning of God's plan. He also realized 


that "God can do anything, and no plan of 


His can be thwarted." 


Job 42:2

Nobody in power, or the ruler of any country, 


can carry out any decision or policy unless 


God grants them 'permission' to do so. 


"Mortals make elaborate plans, but God 


has the final word." 


Proverbs 16:1


Whatever circumstances we may be in, 


God not only permitted them, but also 


designed them for His most excellent use.


Nothing can happen unless God allows it! 


God's "permission" is an efficacious authorization. 


God allows with reluctance because of His 


righteous detest of wickedness.


Suffering, despair, and death can all be 


excruciatingly heartbreaking experiences, 


but those who have experienced God's love 


know that all will work out, in the end, for


 the greater good. 


God longs to make us whole.


The Scriptures are unequivocal. Everything 


that occurs in this world passes through 


God’s sovereign hand. However, just because


 God permits suffering does not imply that


 He causes it (James 1:13-18). Instead, He


 ultimately makes use of all of it to carry out


 His intended purpose.

God allows things to occur 


because they serve a divine 


purpose. 


Even when the world thinks that God is not 


reigning, He is. Even when pandemonium 


occurs, God remains in control. God is still 


in control even when things start to go awry. 


God is adept at making the best possible 


outcome of a bad situation. He will use 


all situations to accomplish His purpose.

Troubles, trials, and tragedies directly


 impact us all, and no one is immune to 


the harsh realities of life or suffering.

May we always remember and never forget –  


God specializes in transforming 


crucifixions into resurrections.

Things we wish to be removed from our lives


 tend to be the very things that God employs 


to shape and mold us into the people He 


desires us to be. He can make our issues 


work for us.

According to Scripture...


testing, trial, suffering, and chastening are God's 


ways of purifying, cleansing, and conforming us 


to the image of His Son, Jesus.


God is aware of and 


attends to our every need.


God has a higher purpose and reward 


behind every problem, and God is capable 


of divinely orchestrating all of our trials


 and sufferings in order to strip away all of


 the worldly things on which we were relying... 


and eventually draws us towards being the 


people He desires for us to be. 


God will use every circumstance 


to achieve His goal.

Suffering Encourages



 Humility.

Suffering doesn't accomplish anything 


material, but it can generate an environment 


for growth and compassion. 



Suffering helps to humble us and awaken 

us from the illusion of self-sufficiency.

The Scriptures remind us, 


"that for those who love God, 



all things work together for good."


Romans 8:28

God is still at work in the midst of pandemics,


 wars, and natural calamities. He has a plan and 


will carry it out, even in the face of anguish and


suffering.


God is our utmost Supporter; He is our 


Merciful Provider, our Rock, and our Comforter.


 God's power is made perfect in our weakness. 


God's grace is more than sufficient for our 


needs. God's strength is perfected in our


insufficiency.

God, in His mercy, allows severe storms and 


great anguish to reveal to us essential truths


 about His grace and mercy. When we cry out


to God for help and strength, we find that God's 


provision is more than enough to meet our needs.

Spiritual traditions from all over the world 


emphasize that, while life can be difficult, 


God is at work, using our circumstances to


 humble us and shape us into the people He 


wants us to be. 



"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks 


to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: 


it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world," 


C.S. Lewis once said.

Innocent suffering is the same


 as the suffering of Jesus.


What does it mean, then, to 


"Share in His sufferings"?


To suffer with Jesus means to face persecution, 


opposition, and hardship.

We may feel that God is unfair and harsh at times, 


but He is a God of Love who allows things in our


 lives that are temporarily very painful in order for 


His eternal purposes to be worked out.


Followers of Jesus are called to some level


 of suffering. We share in His sufferings in


 order that we may also share in His glory. 


Romans 8:16-17

Sadness is a part of our journey.


As Believers, it is inevitable that at some point 


we will encounter trials. No one in the entire 


world is immune to the various types of pain 


and suffering that can befall us in this life.

God will sometimes use a certain amount of pain


 and suffering to shape, mold, and transform us.


We should trust God to take care of us because


 God was able to bring about such a glorious


 outcome from Jesus' suffering.


We are all troubled by our inner thoughts


 and emotions. 

  How are we to respond to suffering?


  What do we do, and how do we respond 


when suffering strikes our family?


Is there any way we can "Learn" what to 


do about suffering?


 How can we help those who are suffering?


Is there purpose in pain?


Is there any escape?


Where is God in all of this suffering? 


Will there ever be a way out of this confusion?


Where and when can we see the fulfillment 


of our heart's desire?


Are we doomed to just suffer, and live as 


"Sufferers?"


These are questions that countless individuals  


have wrestled with... and tried to figure out.

Acts 5:41 says that after the apostles were 


flogged for preaching the Good News about


 Jesus, "the apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing


 because they had been counted worthy of 


suffering disgrace for the Name." They were


 being identified with their Savior; they were 


being treated in the same manner as Jesus;


 they were sharing in His suffering!



So, when people hate us because we are


 identified with Jesus, when they attack and 


persecute us because we bear His Name, when


 we lose our jobs, families, freedom, or even 


our lives for the sake of the gospel, we are 


sharing in the Lord's sufferings. 



We are called to this, and we should 


jump for joy! “We must go through many 


hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” 


Paul explained.


Acts 14:22

Taking up our cross daily 



leads to transformation. 


Life can leave us feeling outraged, abandoned, 

dismissed, unappreciated, or just downright broken. 

Our spirits may feel defeated, and we may seriously

question when will the suffering come to an end?

Suffering is part of our experience on earth. 


The human experience is varied and diverse, but 


few things are as inescapable as suffering. The 


pains and difficulties will differ from person to 


person, but we all suffer.


There is a purpose in the pain.


Suffering can be one of the ways 


God works with us for our own 


growth and to bring us to a better


understanding of Himself. 

When people's private resources are depleted, 


they are willing to turn to the "Ultimate Resource"


 - God.

Perhaps this is the time to 


turn to God.

Suffering in life can be a powerful jolt that helps 


us become more discerning and progressive.


It directs our attention inward, forcing us to 


confront aspects of ourselves that we might


 otherwise avoid. God can then use our 


suffering to shape us into better people, 


people who can love and enjoy Him 


forever.


Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4


In 1 Peter 4:12-16, persecution and hardship 

for the sake of the gospel are linked directly to

 sharing in Jesus' sufferings: 

"Dear friends, do not be surprised by your 

painful trial, as if something strange were

 happening to you. But rejoice that you share

 in Christ's sufferings, so that you can rejoice 

when his glory is revealed. 


If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,

 consider yourself blessed because the Spirit of 

God rests on you. If you are going to suffer, it

 should not be as a murderer, thief, or other 

type of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, 

if you suffer as a Believer, do not be ashamed, 

but rather thank God for your endurance.

God desires to heal us and bring us


out of our state of brokenness.

With God in the forefront, 


we will get through this.


 Suffering prepares us to feel empathy, 


emotionally connect, comfort those 


in pain, understand and share another 


person's hardships.



Those who can genuinely say, 


"Suffering has redeeming value," 


discovers one of the most heartwarming


reasons that suffering has redeeming 


value... empathy. 



Empathy is the fruit of suffering. Empathetic 


concern focuses on easing the suffering of others. 

Empathy is the ability to understand and share 

another person's sufferings. It is experienced by 

those who can sincerely say, 


"I understand how you feel.


I've been in your shoes."

Suffering "makes room for learning and love.


Suffering serves to humble us and awaken 


us from our self-sufficiency illusion.

There may be times on our journey when we 


feel we can't go any further, but God wants us 


to know that His strength is made perfect 


in our weakness.

May we boldly place our hardships at God's feet,


knowing that God's grace and strength are made 


perfect in our weakness. 

This happened during Jesus' life on earth. He was


heard because of His reverent submission.

That is what it takes to faithfully take up our cross


 daily! We have to cry out to God for the strength to 


hold out – for the strength to say “No” and keep


 saying “No” in the time of temptation. We must


 humble ourselves and have the same mind that 


Jesus had: 


“Not My will, but Yours, be done.”


God uses even the most painful 


suffering for good.

Let us always remember and never forget: 


The Cross precedes the 



Crown.

We believe many of the richest, fullest, and 


most fruitful lives are those who have been 


developed in the Divine crucible of testing 


and tribulation. The severe testing either breaks 


or purifies us, which is reason enough to 


rejoice and count it all joy... 


even as we weep.

According to James, "My brothers and sisters, 


take heart when you fall into various temptations,


 knowing that the testing of our faith produces


 patience.


But let patience do her perfect work, so that 


we will be perfect and complete, 


wanting nothing." "


James 1:2-4



When we face trials and challenges, James advises


 us to be perfectly content. The testing of our faith


 leads to patience, and when we allow patience to


 run its full course, it will lead us to strength of 


character and refinement.



God's intention is for God's glory... and for 


God's works to be revealed.


A person's integrity allows 


them to persevere.


Integrity implies that we do not compromise 


and thus do not give up. Integrity is not 


something that develops overnight, but rather


 through repeated tests. God sends trials to purge 


us of sin and allow us to grow and mature in 


integrity.



When human support or material assistance 


of any kind is removed, that is when God's 


power can become active.

We believe that the entire universe is God's garden,


 and that God wants His garden to grow, mature,


and produce.


We believe the Master Gardener prunes every 


branch in us, whether it's a person, place, or 


thing that doesn't bear fruit... or stifles our growth 


in Him.

God will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous 


blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of 


despair. In their righteousness, they will be called great 


oaks that God has planted for His own Glory.


Isaiah 61:3

Surviving hardship can teach us valuable lessons


 about ourselves and the world around us, 


strengthen our resolve, deepen our empathy,


 and eventually allow us to evolve and grow as


 human beings.



Suffering's transformative effect suggests that


 it is our greatest pain that may contain a deeper 


purpose. Perhaps the function of human 


compassion serves that purpose.



To summarize, regardless of why we suffer, it is


 clear that love is the cure for suffering, and that 


all suffering, after many detours, eventually leads 


to love and God's glory being revealed in that 


situation.

Suffering teaches us to rely on God.


Pain and suffering causes us to seek 


intervention from God. We hold fast to 


Go, Who alone is our rock and secure 


foundation. We recognize we are not in 


control and that our lives are a "mist 


that appears for a little while and then 


vanishes."


James 4:14



Suffering teaches us to rely on God in ways 


that nothing else can, and it makes it possible 


for us to recognize that God is sufficient. It 


helps us to recognize that God is far more 


valuable than anything this world is able 


to provide.

There will never be a void

that God cannot fill.

 carolecgood@aol.com

                                                                                                                                      

  www.carolecgood.com

 

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Awesome!!  We complain about the cross we bear but don't  realize 
it is preparing us for the dip in  the road that God can see and we  can't.
 

Whatever your cross, whatever your  pain,
 
there will always be sunshine, after  the rain....
 

Perhaps you may stumble,  perhaps even fall;
 
But God's always ready, to  answer your call....
 

He knows every  heartache, sees every tear,
 
a word from His  lips, can calm every fear...
 

Your sorrows  may linger, throughout the night,
 
But  suddenly vanish, dawn's early  light...
 

The Savior is waiting, somewhere  above,
 
to give you His grace, and send you  His love...
 
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cid:56F84932F9264450BA960D888D28665A@MariaLandmanPC

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cid:D6D026063E224499A9E699D1979F2B8C@MariaLandmanPC

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cid:52AF18CA149546D79BB4BD2EDE54592C@MariaLandmanPC

cid:AECCAEB686DD4DA5825903B558489A0F@MariaLandmanPC

cid:921D7D998638419E87876C51816B090B@MariaLandmanPC

Awesome!!  We complain about the cross we bear but don't  realize 
it is preparing us for the dip in  the road that God can see and we  can't.
 

Whatever your cross, whatever your  pain,
 
there will always be sunshine, after  the rain....
 

Perhaps you may stumble,  perhaps even fall;
 
But God's always ready, to  answer your call....
 

He knows every  heartache, sees every tear,
 
a word from His  lips, can calm every fear...
 

Your sorrows  may linger, throughout the night,
 
But  suddenly vanish, dawn's early  light...
 

The Savior is waiting, somewhere  above,
 
to give you His grace, and send you  His love...
 
the fact or power of enduring or bearing pain, hardships, etc.
2.the ability or strength to continue or last, esp. despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; 
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