A Good Reason To Suffer

Since I wrote about suffering the other day and I know what a popular topic it really is, I thought I might offer a good reason why God uses suffering for His eternal purposes.

Since the summary of the Ten Commandments is to love God and love people then we should find great encouragement here.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God.     2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Let’s see if we can follow this.

God comforts us in our affliction.

The purpose of this comfort is so that we can comfort others in their affliction.

God provides an example in the way He comforted us.

Matthew Henry comments on this passage:

He is able to bind up the broken-hearted, to heal the most painful wounds, and also to give hope and joy under the heaviest sorrows.  The favors God bestows on us, are not only to make us cheerful, but also that we may be useful to others.  He sends comforts enough to support such as simply trust in and serve him.

Trials in life are inevitable.  We all face them and as a Christian, we have the opportunity to face them knowing that God is using them for a three-fold purpose.  Our good, the benefit of others and most importantly for His glory.

If you’ve ever been able to comfort another because you’ve walked through the same type of a trial previously there is nothing more rewarding.  In this God also gives us a wonderful sense of purpose in fulfilling the call to Christian ministry through suffering.

Go forward today knowing that your suffering is making you more like your Savior.

Kevin