Suffering

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. James 1:2-4 (NIV)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:3-4 (NIV)

Many of you know about trials and suffering. As disciples of our Lord, we are called to suffer for our Lord; He mentioned that as a blessing. That’s the meaning of picking up the Cross daily. Suffering is not a bad thing. It is beneficial to our hearts and souls. As the Bible states, it produces many good things when our eyes are on the Cross during trials and suffering. Apostle James knew it, as did the other apostles. When they looked back and told us to consider it pure joy, they weren’t kidding.

Our Lord knew the suffering well by coming down from Heaven and becoming less than angels below Him. Those who were His own did not recognize Him and rejected Him. We know about the feeling of betrayal, which hurts even more than physical pain. His name became curse words. He is not welcome in many places, even in schools of little children He loves. They replaced His birthday with an older guy who always dresses in a red pyjama and has an evil laugh. This old creepy guy likes to sneak into houses at midnight when people sleep, and people welcome that because of the presents. Many no longer celebrate our Lord’s birthday and only celebrate the day off. Christians are afraid to proclaim His name in public so they don’t offend anyone. It is a Happy Holiday, not a Merry Christmas. The enemy succeeded in his good citizen agenda, which has penetrated all fabrics of our world.

Imagine people you love forgetting your birthday. When your birthday comes, they celebrate with someone you hate because of the fake magic. They also give presents to each other but you. What would you feel?

Prophet Isaiah saw the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ in His first coming and wrote the following:

^“He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:2-12 (NIV)

How many words related to our Lord’s suffering can be found in Isaiah’s note?

Despised, rejected, suffering, pain, low esteem, punished, stricken, afflicted, pierced, crushed, wounds, iniquity, oppressed, slaughter, transgression, assigned a grave….

Just in case you doubted our Lord’s suffering compared to yours. Our suffering is nothing. We may suffer for our family relationships, friendships, jobs, housing, finances, persecution, and health situations. So you know earthly suffering is only temporary. If we can go through those sufferings with our eyes on the Cross, and love like our Lord has loved, there will be no self-pity. Without self-pity, suffering is no longer suffering but training. Take the training one day at a time so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Those who train without self-pity shall collect rewards. As Apostle James said, consider it pure joy so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you with courage and discernment so that you know His will is to prosper you and not to forsake you.

May His will be done. He is coming back soon.

PS: It is good to be back home.

Becomelects Ministry