On Suffering.

{via}

Ive been thinking a lot about suffering and struggles lately. Because, well, we all go through them. I have recently gone through some BIG struggles in my life. And of course there are the every day struggles... There people all around me, people I love who are struggling and suffering for different things and going through hardships.

I started thinking about God and where He is in all of this. I've never once question that there is a God, that we have a divine creator.  But I would be lying if I said I never questioned God. Asked Him WHY? Why am I going through this, why did this have to happen, why do people suffer? Why, why, WHY?

Because we go through struggles and we have hardships or bad things happen some people seem to assume there is no God. Or if you're a person that believes in God, you may think that God doesn't love us. Or that God has left us or is punishing us.

But as I was thinking on this subject I was reminded that scripture tells us that God has said He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:15) In fact we are told to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS, not to be afraid or terrified, because God is with us and will never leave us nor forsake us! (Deuteronomy 31:6)

We need to remember that there is pain and suffering in the world because we have choice, free will. And where there is choice and free will there will always be someone who chooses evil. And just because we ourselves may not (always) choose evil (we are all sinners and will or have at once point or another do some kind of evil), that doesn't mean we wont be affected by it.

We will have times of suffering. We will endure hardships. But we also need to remember that we are not alone in our suffering. Jesus who was blameless and sinless suffered for us. And we will suffer because He too has suffered (more verses on His suffering 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 3:18). He has suffered for US. And as we take up our cross and follow Him, we too will suffer along the narrow road. We need to know that even though we will suffer, it doesn't mean that God doesn't exist or doesn't love us, or that he is mean or unjust. But He does allow suffering because it grows us (spiritually and emotionally), prepares us, gives us a testimony, produces perseverance and obedience...

I found this written by Rick Warren, while doing some research on suffering, and looking for different bible verses online.. And I wanted to share, because he explains it so well:

"Nothing can come into the life of a child of God without God's permission.  Everything is Father-filtered. Don't misunderstand.  I am not saying that everything that happens to you in life is God's perfect will.  That's just not true.  There are a lot of things that are not God's will. If you go out and sin, that's not God's will.  If somebody sins against you, that's not God's perfect will.

But God does have a permissive will. If I go out and I overeat, I pay the consequences.  If I go out and wreck my body, I pay the consequences.  God does not cause evil and God does not cause suffering.

But He does allow them because they have a purpose.  God permits them and then He uses them. 
God is an expert at bringing good out of bad...  

God loves to turn crucifixions into resurrections.  The things you wish were most removed from your life are often the very things that God is using to shape you and make you into the believer of character He wants you to be.  He wants to use that problem for good in your life. There's something more important than your pain.  It's what you're learning from that pain. God is in control."
(read the full article here)

So what can we do when we suffer? Does knowing this, that God will eventually bring good out of it, make us all better at the time of struggles and suffering? Maybe not... Maybe we will need to cry. A LOT. Maybe we will need to have a pity party. Maybe we will need to throw a few fits. Maybe we will be angry. Maybe it will take time before we can get out of bed and face the day, or people, or feel like we can live again.... Maybe we will need to take it one day, hour, minute or second at a time.

BUT we can still TRUST that we have a HOPE that God works for the Good of those who love Him. And that in the end we will be ok. Better even. Because in the end GOD is there. In the midst of struggles, even, God is there! Even when we don't feel it we can KNOW that God is HOLDING us. And He will be our refuge and strength. And we can take heart because though we suffer in this world, we know that God has already overcome the world. And nothing in the world can compare to the glory we will share in, with Him in Heaven.

My sweet friends. I have prayed over and about this post.

Its my prayer that God uses it touches your heart that it just might be helpful to someone.

That it is something someone needed to hear right now.

I know I need these kind of reminders often.

I pray that you take courage, heart and refuge in our loving heavenly Father in YOUR times of struggle & suffering.

I'll be linking this up to Desire to Inspire.

Much Love & Hugs,

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