Suffering And Comfort

For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.
Philippians 1:29 (NLT)

Can suffering ever be considered a good thing? I think most of us would be very happy to avoid suffering, for suffering means pain and hardship, anguish and misery. We generally fear suffering, and try to avoid it as much as possible.

who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” Hebrews 5:7-10 (NKJV)

We see that Jesus suffered on earth, He not only suffered through death on the cross, He suffered anguish over the idea of dying on a cross before he reached that cross. Jesus knew what it was to suffer in body and mind. The author George MacDonald said the following:

“The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their suffering might be like His.”

That is a powerful statement, especially in the time we live in, for some modern preaching insists that we are never to suffer any hardship or pain, never to endure difficulties, or illness, or any real suffering. We want to hear the message that suffering is forever removed from us, yet our experience is that suffering is not removed from our lives, or the lives of our loved ones.

Jesus died, not that we might never suffer anything again on earth, but that we will know a time in heaven that is free of suffering, and we know in the here and now that Jesus is with us in our suffering, and that our pain matters to Him.
Jesus will sometimes remove our pain, and He promises to never let more come our way than we can endure.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Yet we also know that God does not remove all suffering from our lives.

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NKJV)

Jesus died for our sins, giving us the hope of an eternity free of pain and suffering in heaven. But He did not leave us without hope and help for our time here on earth. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort and to strengthen us through our times of suffering. Take just a moment and consider that the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Comforter. Think about that, why would the Holy Spirit be called the Comforter? It is because God knows we need comfort on this earth for the many things we suffer through. We need the comforting Holy Spirit in our lives.

You may be suffering right now. Jesus’ death gives meaning to our suffering, for He suffered more than most of us can comprehend, He knows what suffering is, and He will be with us no matter what suffering we are going through.

Call upon the Lord in your times of suffering, and allow His Holy Spirit to bring comfort to your heart.

Dear Lord, we wish that our lives were free of suffering, yet we know that obedience and faith come through hardship, and we pray that You will keep us strong, and give us comfort, no matter what comes our way. Amen.

Karlton Douglas
copyright 2016