We continue with our series on What The Bible Says. In case you’ve missed the others, you can review them by clicking below:
We will use three questions to guide our reflection.
First, read John 16:33,
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
With that in mind, you can agree with Jesus’ words, based on the scripture above that “in this world, we will have trouble.”
While you ponder that statement, I want you to stay in context. What I mean is Jesus was referring to his impending death as well all the trials the disciples (or those who follow him will go through for his namesake).
Go back to chapters 14 and 15. There, you’ll make more sense that trouble in the world has to do more with the fact that the Christian faith is counter-cultural to society just as it was in Jesus’ days and as it is today, 2000 years later.
What causes suffering and pain?
Suffering and pain are not only a result of the world rejecting Jesus as the Christ, and, thus, persecuting those who believe in him.
It all started with humans choosing to break God’s commandment from the beginning of our existence. Review my reflection on the Bible and sin.
Sin (evil) causes Suffering
Suffering and pain are a result of sin as stated in Genesis 3.
Not only were Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden of Eden. They lost three very important elements of life: balance, harmony, order.
Also, they lost the connection with God. They had fallen short of God’s glory.
As a result, death, enmity, and corruption entered our human existence. Go back to my reflection on The Bible and Death to learn more.
The bottom line is that Satan schemes to separate us from God, each other, and our environment.
But, the good news is that:
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:20
Our personal choices may cause suffering and pain
When you carefully read Genesis 3, the story of Adam and Eve’s fall into sin, what you notice is that they had a choice to either listen to Satan (the tempter) or God.
They, however, chose to disobey God and thus listen to Satan.
That choice came with consequences: sin and death. Also, suffering, pain, and more found their way into our human existence.
[bctt tweet=”Choices we make every day may cause suffering and pain if we do them in disobedience to God and God’s Word.” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]
Deuteronomy 30:15,
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.
How does the Bible suggest we handle suffering?
For us to better handle suffering, and do it biblically, we need to understand two things.
First, God can use our suffering and pain to help us spiritually mature. Second, God wants us to see his glory, and we do it through suffering and pain.
That’s why Paul encourages the Corinthians not to lose heart. Read his words below,
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17.
God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. What we’ve got to do is to learn how to be content with whatever we face, even when it’s really painful and unbearable. Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
God may use suffering as a way of us learning some discipline.
Look at suffering and pain as means God can use to train you so that you bear more fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).
As you and I face whatever suffering or pain in life, let’s keep in mind that God doesn’t wish us to perish, but to reach repentance and more spiritual maturity (1 Peter 3:9).
So, choose to rejoice in your sufferings. And, the reason why you have to do is basically what Paul talks about in Romans 5:3-5,
More than that, 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.
Ok, here are three things you need to practice, and daily.
Suffer as a Christian
Glorify and praise God as you go through your pain ~ see 1 Peter 4:16.
Don’t give up on your faith in God and keep doing good ~ see 1 Peter 3:17.
Count suffering as a joy
Look at your suffering and pain as an opportunity for you to experiencing the saving power of God in a new dimension. God is the deliverer of the afflicted ~ see Job 36:15.
Be joyous not only when you face one kind of suffering (pain), but all types ~ see James 1:2.
Suffering through persecution because of our faith
No matter what kind of opposition you may face because of your faith, you don’t have to give up on your faith in Christ. In the end, you’ll experience God’s salvation ~ see Matthew 10:22 and Mark 13:13.
In Jesus alone, there is peace. And, we should know that for as long as we are in this world, there will always be trouble. But, the truth is Jesus has already overcome the world. And, in him, we have peace. See John 16:33.
When you experience some opposition because of your faith, you should bless and not curse those who do it to you. See Romans 12:14.
Also, keep in mind that you aren’t in this world. And, that’s why you may experience opposition from it. Your values are counter-cultural to those of society today.
The good news is that, not only Jesus has already overcome the world. But, he has chosen you out of the world (John 15:19).
Your lifestyle, as a result of your faith in Christ, sets you up for persecution, which we don’t experience very much here in the U.S., or other Western developed countries.
The reality is that, in some parts of the world, all those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus are being persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).
When will pain and suffering end for good?
When Jesus Christ comes back again
The source of hope is the fact that Jesus is coming back again. And, when he comes, he will restore God’s kingdom on earth and in the rest of the cosmos.
Jesus is coming soon!
That’s what the angel tells the disciples as they stir at the sky after Jesus has vanished in the air,
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Acts 1:11.
When Jesus is back, not only will he restore God’s kingdom everywhere. He will also wipe tears from our eyes.
More importantly, there will be no mourning, crying, pain, because all the former things will pass away (Revelation 21:4).
No pain and suffering for those who enter the city by the gates
Keep in mind that when Jesus comes back, it’s only those who enter the city by the gates who will experience victory over pain, suffering, and death (Revelation 22:12-15). To make it into the city, you and I have to believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We have to show it through the way we live every day. My prayer and hope are that we all get a chance to get into this city. It’s in this space where we will no longer be in pain and suffering anymore!
