1 PETER 5:10 – And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD SUFFERING. We don’t like to suffer for obvious reasons. For sure, it hurts whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual and nobody likes pain. Suffering also tempts us to commit the sin of complaining. We may even find ourselves crying out like David in the opening of Psalm 13 with a spirit of impatience – How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2). But suffering not only may draw us to the sin of complaining but also the sin of rebellion. Read chapters thirteen and fourteen of the Old Testament book of Numbers to get an eye-opening insight to God’s attitude toward complaining.
When it comes to suffering, God uses it in our lives for good things. He really does. There are spiritual lessons and spiritual changes necessary in our walks with the Lord that will only be learned in the “school of suffering”. The words from the Lord through the prophet Isaiah validate this reality in the life of every believer – Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10). So, with the inevitability of suffering, what is the proper attitude we should take? Today’s scripture provides it. The Apostle Peter offers us three truths to help us respond to suffering in a manner pleasing to the Lord.
First, accept suffering is certain. It is not if, but when – And after you have suffered. Peter makes the right assumption of the certainty of suffering in the believer’s life.
Next, suffering is of short duration – a little while. It doesn’t feel like it when in the depths of suffering of any kind but compare it with eternity. It is only for a little while.
A third truth is we learn that our suffering is met by the God of all grace which means His promises to us concerning our suffering will come true. And what does He promise? He will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. As we go through suffering, and God does His work in us, keep looking to what He has promised. When the lessons are learned, we will know, like never before, the grace of God that will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. Remember the end as we go through suffering. It will help us to maintain the right attitude as we suffer.
So, suffering. It is real and it is certain. Let’s make sure we honor the Lord with the right attitude as we go through those spiritually developing seasons of suffering.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to respond to suffering with the attitude that pleases You.”
QUOTE: “Suffering is not pleasant but its profitable for our spiritual growth, if we respond right.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim