Suffering Is A Fact Of Life

Scripture:
Revelations 2:8-12 (NASB)

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

Devotional:

Tribulations are a part of life.  Everyone has good times and bad times.  Think about some of the hardships you have gone through.  If we rely on God we can overcome our troubles.  God, who is in us is greater than anything else, especially Satan.  1 John 4:1-4 (NASB):

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Satan wants to thwart God’s plans.  He wants to divide us from Him.  Satan will deceive us and place hardships in our lives to keep us from God.  

Just remember that you have it within you to persevere and to overcome.  When you cannot stand on your own fall back on Him who has already defeated the enemy.  Jesus has defeated death and beaten Satan.  So what do we have to fear?  No one likes tribulations.  None of us want to suffer.  But suffering is a fact of life.  There is no way around it.  Do you want to suffer alone?  Do you want to go through trials and tribulations by yourself?  I personally would rather have someone by my side.  Who better than He who is already victorious?  Through faith we can overcome all things.  In the end if we are faithful God will have a wonderful place set aside for us in heaven.