Blessing in Suffering

 For Jesus, the cross was the most terrifying nightmare. On the evening of His arrest, after the Last Supper, He was overcome with horror.

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mk 14:36 NIV

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Lk 22:43–44 NIV

The cross was an unbearable agony, but it was the way Jesus had to go to redeem us.

The agony of the cross was God's plan before the foundation of the world so that God's eternal Son would take the punishment for our sins. He loves you.

Thank you Jesus.

But Jesus was not the only one who had to suffer in order to pass on God's grace. The devil does not want to allow God's grace to be passed on without cruel resistance.

Paul was terribly persecuted.

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 2 Cor 11:24–25 NIV

Even today, tens of thousands of Christians are murdered every year and even more are tortured in prisons.

Are you under threat now? The cross was the unthinkable torture for Jesus, but it was the way to God's heaven, not only for Himself, but for countless people, including you and me.

About six years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had prayed beforehand that no cancer would show up in the biopsy, but God allowed the cancer so that I would have a testimony.

Recently I had another biopsy. The very tiny tumours were still there but had not grown or progressed in 6 years. I never needed treatment and the specialist said I would probably never need it. God moves in mysterious ways.

It has been a tough trial, but my testimony not only grew my faith, but it was a strong encouragement to my family and friends.

We don't get far without hard trials. How would David have become a great king and prophet without Goliath?

For Daniel, the lion's den was not a stumbling block, but a stepping stone through which he was vindicated. The lion's den was not his defeat, but his victory.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a role model for the German nation and for Christians all over the world. He was murdered by the Nazis shortly before the end of the war. Without Adolf Hitler, his influence would never have been so great.

I love testimonies of miraculous healings and near-death experiences, but most of these people had to first experience illness or death in order to be able to testify of Jesus and his glory.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Cor 1:3–5 NIV

I have never enjoyed the loving presence of God more than in hard times.