1 NOV 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional
“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.” Psalm 119:71-72
Don’t waste your suffering. How did that sentence hit you? Our normal or natural reaction to suffering is that we don’t want it, avoid it, and when it happens we want it to be over quickly. I get it. There is something more to it because we see in the Scriptures and from life that there is suffering in this world and we are all affected by it. We can ponder in the moment when we are experiencing it and ask why?
Rather than ask why, ask what do I do with it? What is there to learn? Can I grow from it? Paul rejoiced in his suffering because he saw it as a tool to both develop him as a person, but also a means to glorify God. Romans 5, he says suffering will produce endurance, character, and hope. Paul experienced God in a greater and unique way when he suffered which he wouldn’t have if he had not gone through the trial.
The Scriptures look at suffering as the refiner's fire in which precious metals are purified. The hotter the temperatures the dross or imperfections come out. God sovereignly allows us to endure suffering and uses it for our good. Weakness due to suffering brings strength to our spirit and faith. As Christians, we do not go through it alone. God is present with us and will give us the strength to make it through it. We are delivered through or delivered to His presence.
Our suffering can help others to be comforted when they go through suffering, look at cancer survivors. We can testify to God’s faithfulness, goodness, and ability to turn our tears into joy. In comparison to eternity, the suffering we experience now is nothing compared to the joy and health we will have in heaven. If you are suffering today, may God comfort you, heal you, and give you peace. May he move you to say like David, ‘My suffering was good for me’.
Are you suffering and don’t know how to process it?
Reading Plan: Psalm 119:49-72; Ezra 6:1-22; Rev. 5:1-10; Matt. 13:10-17
No comments:
Post a Comment