What have I learned from suffering?

Dear Brothers and Sisters: As you know well, I have not been in church for quite a while. I don’t have the physical strength to stand and teach or preach or even to sit in the pew and listen. Also, my ability to concentrate has somewhat deteriorated, so preparing lessons and sermons is not possible.

I have always taught that no matter what the various limitations we may have in physical strength, mental capacity, or academic preparation, we should use what gifts God has given us to share our faith, win souls for Christ, and encourage others. This applies to me, too, in my current condition. So, I have decided that I would at least communicate, as I am able, a short and simple spiritual message from time to time. This is the first.

What have I learned from suffering?

When one is totally helpless and can accomplish nothing …

When all our plans are laid in the dust …

… then all we have is trust that God is still on His throne.

He knows what I am going through. He is allowing it to happen. Because of His great love, there is a plan for the greater good – for my greatest good, too.

Job 23:10 – But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Coming forth with the gold of Christ’s righteousness is worth any suffering. Suffering has a certain sweetness to it when we recognize that our Lord is actively working on our behalf to separate us from the world and focus us on eternal issues. He provides the strength to face trial.

2 Cor 12:9 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Job 13:15 – Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

2 Cor 4:17-18 – For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.