Pain & Suffering

Scripture:
1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Devotional:

Why do we suffer?  Why go through all the hardships, pain, and turmoil?  God never promises to remove all pain and anxiety from us.  Just because we became a Christian doesn’t mean that we will no longer suffer.  God will at times remove our hardship.  Other times he will see us through them.  Most spiritual growth does not happen while things are going good.  We tend to grow the most when we are faced with hardships and suffering.  It is in those times that we are most likely to turn to God for help.  In our nature we tend to take credit for all the good and forget God.

As iron ore is forged into strong metal so our spirits are forged.  God will use our trials and hardships much like a forge is used to purify metal.  He will make us stronger, if we rely on Him.  As we realize we must rely on Him our faith will grow.  He is faithful and will be with us.  He will see us through all things.  Joshua 1:5 (NIV) “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  I do not know all the reasons God will allow us to endure hardship and pain.  I do know that He will use those times to make us stronger.  I also know that because we live in a fallen world there will always be pain, suffering, and hardship.  Jesus never promised us that we would be excluded from the world and what happens in it.  He did promise to be with us and to send us a suitable helper, the Holy Spirit…