1) Suffering is a force that pushes us closer to God. It helps us see our weaknesses and the need to rely on Him.
2) Suffering develops Christlike character (Rom. 8:18–29).
3) Suffering uncovers the genuineness of our faith (1 Pet. 1:6–7).
4) The comfort we receive during our suffering enables us to comfort others (2 Cor. 1:5–7).
5) Christians who have experienced intense suffering display intense grace (2 Cor. 12:7–9).
6) Our suffering provides opportunity to tap into our Lord's strength (2 Cor. 9:10).
7) Suffering helps us keep our focus on Heaven and eternal values (2 Cor. 4:16—5:5; Phil. 1:20–23; Col. 3:1–4; 2 Tim. 6–8).
8) God doesn't test us beyond what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).
9) God's way is sometimes hard, but it is always perfect (Psm. 18:30a).
10) Sometimes, God's will is mysterious, but it is always best. Herod executed James, but God extricated Peter from a similar fate. (Acts 12).
11) The Rapture—the blessed hope— may occur in our lifetime and will end our suffering.
12) God may receive greater glory through a suffering believer's display of faith than through healing.
13) Job's questions about suffering were answered by a revelation of God's sovereignty (Job 42–6).
14) The curse of sin ravages human life as well as nature. Our sufferings are a reflection of the extent of the curse.
15) Heaven's joys will make earth's sufferings seem like nothing. (Rev. 21:1–5).
copyright 2007 JamesDyet
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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