Shows us what’s in our hearts:
All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. Deuteronomy 8:1-2 (KJV)
Just in case we were confused and did not know what was in our hearts, the Lord is going to show it to us during suffering. Remember that the Bible says in the book of Romans that the old testament is given to us believers to teach us and to be our examples. These very things that happened in the old testament are figurative examples of various cycles and circumstance that we go through in our individual lives. In the above passage of scripture, God’s people were in transition going from one place to the next. However, before they went into the land, they were led of the Lord to be tested and tried in the wilderness, so that God’s people could know what was in their hearts, and remember to obey the Lord. God was teaching his people to remember to obey all of his commands and to depend on him. If they could do this during suffering; they could do it when they entered into the land where God was taking them. Many people think in suffering that they need the promise land, but what we need is to have our hearts corrected toward the Lord. This is the time for correction and confirmation. Correction for what we have been doing wrong, and confirmation for what we have been doing right. In this time, if there is anything that we need to surrender to God we should do it now. Also, God’s love is confirmed in this because God only corrects those whom he loves, and has adopted as sons (Hebrews 12:5-11).
Allows another Portion of Our Identity to be Revealed Confirming Who We Are to Ourselves and to Others:
When Jesus was led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. He was tested in his identity. Often the very thing that we are tested in is the very thing that God seeks to promote us in, and to reveal to us, and others just who we are, and what he has put inside of us.
Jesus’ identity never changed. He was the Son of God and the lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world, but the circumstances did not look that way because Jesus was weak and tired in the wilderness. Despite what things looked like or felt like; Jesus had to hold fast to what he knew. Right after the test, Jesus was strengthened by angels, and the next passage of scripture shows Jesus identity being confirmed on the mountain of transfiguration. On the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus stands with James and John next to Elijah and Moses. God, the Father says from heaven: “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”
During those moments of testing when we are suffering for Christ, and people don’t understand why we stand the way that we do or take on the identity that we take on; Remember, that God will not leave us in that place of people questioning, jesting, or looking at us as if we are crazy. God will confirm who we are to us, and to other onlookers because one of the greatest results of suffering in Christ is for the purpose of God’s glory being revealed. We are Christ’s inheritance according to Ephesians 1. If God leaves us out there looking crazy, then he looks crazy also, and that isn’t what God is about. Continue to endure and wait for God to confirm and reveal you. We don’t even have to defend ourselves; we just have to speak the word as Jesus did, and keep on living.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17
Provides discipline sharpening us and making us better.
This was covered briefly in part I where we discussed intimacy with God. Enduring temptation makes us whole, and complete. We lack nothing after enduring suffering. We are made stronger for it. Read James 1:1-4,
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:3-5Provides an example for other Christians who will suffer.
If She Can Do It, I Can Do It. If She Can Get Through it; Than so Can I.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 2 Corinthians 1:8 (NIV)I was shocked when I first read this in the Bible. I guess I had never noticed it before, but it sounds like either Paul and his people had it so bad that they thought they would die, or that they could have possibly considered suicide. There are times in our lives as believers where things get so bad where we are tempted to despair of all hope and even consider suicide, but Paul’s next statement should be taken as an indicator of why these moments happen, and what we should do.Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)
Isn’t it nice to know that we aren’t alone. To know that the apostles in the Bible faced challenges that made them feel in a way similar to how we feel today. It is to say the least comforting. Prior to Paul describing how discomforted he felt; He expressed a very important benefit in him having gone through. He got through the suffering and discomfort from relying on Christ. Relying on Christ not only comforted Paul and the other apostles, but it comforted the whole Corinthian church that he was writing to. Finally, God still uses believers to work in the same way today. When we go through and overcome through Christ; it provides an example to others that they too can do the same. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5
“The above scripture points to why looking to Christ in suffering is so important. He is our only comfort and hope.”
If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:6
Have u ever been through a situation that was so bad you thought you would die? Don’t despair of all hope; instead get your comfort by looking to Christ, and fellow-shipping with Christ. You are being made better in the process, and God is using your example for someone else who is going through. You are not alone!
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