I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV

Irrespective of who you are, there is one thing certain, in this world, there is suffering and many times there is no escape. However, God comforts us saying that we can have peace and we can be cheerful despite those sufferings. It’s impossible to be at peace or rejoice when we focus on the pain and suffering we bear. However, we can learn to be at peace and rejoice in our suffering when we look at the cross and learn from God to triumph in our suffering. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. (Hebrews 5: 8-9 NLT)

God allows suffering in our lives, so that we mature in our faith. Our spiritual growth takes place in the moment of adversity, in pain and stress we are moulded and transformed from the ordinary into the extraordinary. Just as gold is tested in the fire, so that the impurities from the gold can be separated and what is left is pure gold, we too undergo trials in our lives and God allows those trials to mould us and draw all impurities out of us so that we become more yielding and pliable and are perfected to fulfil God’s divine will and purpose.

Our faith in God and His grace enables us to mature in our suffering, since our suffering produces endurance, and endurance character, and character produces hope which enables us to rejoice in our suffering. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 ESV)

At times our suffering may seem like hindrances and hurdles along our path, which deviates us from our smooth path of life. We may feel that our trails are unnecessary and we could have been better off without it. God has not designed those trials in our lives to make us fall and be defeated, but He has designed those trials in our lives so that we learn how to rise above them. In a hurdle race, the athletes do not stop at the hurdle in their race track, nor do they walk around it, nor do they bend and crawl under it, but they jump above those hurdles, they run at a high speed and jump over it that it almost looks as if they are flying over the hurdles. How do you handle your hurdles in life, do you stop on your track defeated by those hurdles, do you try walking around it, or running away and avoiding the hurdles, are you burdened by those hurdles that you crawl under them or do you train yourself and learn to fly over those hurdles to the finish line and receive your crown of victory? This crown of victory is our eternal life. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 ESV)

In our faith journey we will have tests, and our true victory is determined in persevering in those trials, for if we give up, we will never develop and we will not fulfil God’s purpose for our life. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:  12-16).

Our suffering strengthens us and prepares us for the work of God’s Kingdom so that many may come to know the gospel. In my personal life, God has been the closest to me in my suffering. I have seen God intervene in my life and save me and has allowed me to learn from my suffering and has enabled me to help others that are going through troubles in their lives. Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:4 ESV)

Right now, you may be amid suffering but this too shall pass. In the meantime, persevere in your suffering and in due time you shall reap your reward. 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. (1 Peter 5:10 ESV).

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