So far perspectives have played a large role in our journey
to make sense out of the chaos we experience in life. The Bible is very open
about suffering. Its pages are covered with the tears and blood of faithful
saints that have persevered under the most strenuous circumstances. The apostle
Paul would be one of these individuals. Many times it may be easy to read
through the pages of Scriptures and disconnect yourself from the realities of
their suffering. You may find it easy reading about Paul’s afflictions as you
sit in your home, at Starbucks, or in church. Perhaps we have become soft
Christians because we have suffered little in the light of some of these.
Are they servants of Christ? I am a
better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more
imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I
received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was
beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and
a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger
from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the
city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in
toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often
without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the
daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am
not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
(2 Corinthians 11:23-29 ESV)
If you choose to focus on your despair and suffering and
fail to look outside of yourself you run the risk of missing out on the
opportunity suffering can offer. Suffering, an opportunity? I think it is safe
to say that none of us have experienced suffering the way Paul did. Yet he did
not allow his pain to lead to despair that would render him ineffective for
Christ. What also is interesting is why he is sharing his testimony with the
Corinthian church.
Paul’s ministry is under attack by the believers at Corinth.
He begins to defend the ministry God has called him to in 2 Corinthians 10 and
goes on to discuss his role in being the first to bring them the gospel and
warns them of others brining a gospel differing from the one he shared 2 Corinthians 11:2-4. It would be easy at this point for anyone to through up his
or her hands and give up on such a stubborn group of believers. Perhaps Paul
could have become depressed and felt like a failure because they were attacking
him. The situation is ugly and depressing, but Paul does not let that determine
his response. The first thing to notice is that Paul’s response is based on his
commitment to Christ and love for the souls of those in Corinth (2 Cor. 11:2).
Paul does not take their attacks personally. He is not
focused on himself, nor is he going to meditate on his problems. However
difficult and frustrating his situation, he does not allow it to distract him
from his purpose. He looks outside of himself and focuses on God and the
immature believers he loves so dearly. Because Paul is looking outside himself,
he uses this opportunity as an example and lesson to teach others to not remain
in their despair but to access the grace God offers to all those who suffer for
His sake.
So to keep me from becoming
conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was
given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from
becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it
should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my
power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of
Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions,
and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV)
When Paul’s ministry and character are put into question, he
does not despair, but rather points his audience to Christ. Paul’s intentions
were never self-centered and therefore their attacks were ineffective. Paul was
able to bear all of his persecutions because he depended upon the grace of
God. When you depend upon the grace of
God, the symptoms, pain, or suffering brought on by the situation does not
lesson by any stretch of the imagination. Being stoned hurts. Grace does not
make that feel any better. Grace does
put the pain into perspective. Paul’s suffering had a purpose and was used to
glorify God. Paul found a worthy Meaning to place his suffering in which helped
him bear the pain, but it did not lesson the severity of it. Paul reminds us
that whatever pain you are going through you can choose to respond in a God
honoring manner and trust Christ will sustain you through it.
Walking out in faith while you are depressed is not easy,
but as believers we are called to do it. While others see God working in your
life—despite your symptoms of depression—they will turn to God and give Him the
glory because in your weaknesses, His power is made perfect. For that reason,
Paul was content to experience his thorn in the flesh and the suffering he
encounter because of the gospel. Your
suffering is also an opportunity to show others that God’s grace is sufficient
Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who
are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted
by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV
Paul wrote these passages of Scripture to aid us in our
suffering. He lived this out not on pages, but in his life. Let us never forget
the cost men and our Savior have willing endured for the sake of the gospel.
Looking to Jesus, the founder and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of
God.
(Hebrews 12:2 ESV)
Like Christ we are to look toward our cross with Joy and to
endure the pain that has been set before us. Christ paid the cost we could
never pay.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when
you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith
produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you
may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him
ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given
him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like
a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must
not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
(James 1:2-7 ESV)
Christians are comprised of emotions and we cannot always
control the emotion we feel, but we can control how we respond and perceive
those emotions. We must choose today that our belief and faith in the truth of
God is going to govern the choices we make instead of our emotions. We will
battle through this journey because the suffering on this present earth is a
testing ground that will play a critical role in my spiritual development for
eternity. Do not let your emotions cause you to doubt God’s truth and victory
over various trials you experience. He has provided the Holy Spirit as a comforter and the church as a family of love and support. God does not expect us to suffer in isolation, but He has never promised that we would not suffer. Know this, that no matter what the cause or source of the pain you are facing today, you can turn to God. Cry out to him like the psalmist and seek His face. You will find a God who is righteous, Holy, compassionate, full of wrath, and grace who intimately knows you. God is not distant in your suffering.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect
has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw
near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help
in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV)
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