Psalm 23:4

The New Testament wasn’t written from a far removed safe place, away from the trials, pressures and sufferings of this world. All of its authors and its first readers were people who knew deep suffering. Their pressures and persecutions were far more severe than most of us are now, or have ever, experienced. Therefore, when the Bible lead us in handling difficult times, it’s speaking from first hand, life tested experiences.

What the New Testament writers consistently emphasize for those who are “walking through the valley of shadow, “is to rejoice……be glad…..consider yourselves blest,” all these things are happening for your and my ultimate good!!

Suffering enables us to release what is least important, and hold fast to that which is eternal. While our outer world is dismantling, the real, and true person we truly are, the one growing in strengthening faith and trust, is growing even stronger! II Corinthians 4:16 reassures us “For which cause we faith not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

Suffering is also our best chance to glorify God. The closer Christ faced His crucifixion, the more He talked about glorifying His Heavenly Father. His greatest, most enduring work was accomplished on the Cross of Calvary. As we glorify God in the midst of life’s trials, the desperate world sees God in us.

Suffering is our best chance to glorify God. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him, glorify God on this behalf.” (1 Peter 4:16) Yes, suffering grows true grace. “Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” These hard won attributes of character enumerated in Galatians 5, 22 and 23, are costly, yet worth every effort to grow them!

Never forget that our salvation under the Blood of Jesus is never without cost. When we suffer for Jesus Christ, we are granted a most special privilege to spread the Gospel of eternal hope! We stand with the greatest Saints of all time, as our Savior Himself taught in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” No, our present suffering, however long and unsettling, cannot compare to sharing with Jesus’, “the man of sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:3) As we walk and live in Christ, a more profound relationship with Jesus is built. It’s an eternal friendship; a perfect and holy communion!

Rejoice Christians! Yours and my present suffering cannot possibly compare to the joy we will be sharing when Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, takes us to Himself. “For I reckon that the sufferings at this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18) Read II Corinthians 4:17-18