When we think about God’s promises, we tend to focus on the blessings: forgiveness, mercy, and eternal life, to name a few. But Jesus promised us something else as well: “You will have suffering in this world” (John 16:33). Read that again. That’s not You might or You may or You could. It’s You will. As sure as death and taxes and God’s love for sinners, we will suffer—Jesus guarantees it.
For many people, God and suffering are not compatible. If God exists, they reason, then there should be no suffering, for how could a good God allow it? But the true God is no stranger to pain. The Son allowed His body to be tormented and twisted by the most gruesome torture device of the ancient world, the cross. And He did so to put an end to the world’s suffering, once and for all. In the same breath that He promised us suffering, He made another promise, one so sure that it was spoken in the past tense: “I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).
Sin has so wormed itself in and through this world that we cannot avoid suffering entirely. It would be like trying to avoid sand at the beach. But we also suffer in a special way as Christ’s followers. We suffer because He suffered first. And when we endure this life and all it can throw at us, the same way He did, we display our faith that Christ has indeed conquered the world. For “if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him” (2Timothy 2:11–12).
I’m grateful that SRT is focusing today on the “harder” promises of our God. As indicated in the devotion, so many have a belief that suffering is incompatible with a good God. Even in the church, I have heard some deny the call to suffer as a Christian. Their focus is only on the promises we enjoy rather than the promises which are painful. Ironically, I have found that the more dangerous wolves are those who are in sheep’s clothing — that is professing Christians. Because of my many encounters with the prosperity gospel within the Christian circles I have been and am currently in, I am alert to Jesus’ warning to “beware”. In Matthew 7:15-23, he has already brought to us the warning to beware of false prophets and false disciples.
It’s pains my heart each time I hear professing Christians caught in the throes of deceit, being deceived and being deceivers. Yet, I have hope and I pray in that hope for the Lord to have mercy on many and snatch them from the fire.
Additionally, I am encouraged to strengthen my commitment to the Lord in regard to the many family members (including my husband and some siblings) who reject the whole counsel of God’s word and who Jesus truly is. They are walking in moralism or New Age/New Thought beliefs and have become angry with me when I ask questions in attempts to point them to the truths in the word of God. I hear the Lord telling me to keep proclaiming what he whispers to me in the dark. Oh how I pray to be a vessel of love to those who hate me, even those in my family, because I love Jesus more than these. It’s the only way to walk. Though no one is threatening to kill me at this point, I am willing to lose my life for his sake.
As someone who can be fainthearted in my flesh, I am so glad I can cast my fears and anxieties upon the Lord and he has promised to restore, confirm, strengthen and establish me. I’m grateful that these descriptions of overwhelming trials are for the fainthearted, of whom the Lord will encourage and grant courage as we run to him as our refuge!
Thank you for sharing, Diana. You have a beautiful testimony.❤️
These passages bring me such peace. I have had a continual struggle with my mother and her “meanness” towards me and my beliefs. it hurts my soul so much every time she attacks me again. and then a few years ago it started happening with our oldest son as well. but these past passages bring peace to my heart, knowing that he promised that in this world there would be suffering and that suffering includes separation from family. He also says that it’s important to not allow those relationships to rule my heart but to allow him to rule my heart. It doesn’t take away the sting but it does bring me peace.
I now can say I’ve been living for quite a while. I’m not a senior saint yet, but not too far from it. Maybe just a tad over a decade LOL. But I have to say that in my lifetime there’s been ups and downs. Joy. Suffering. The unknown. Many, many curveballs but then a lot of joy, and peace and wonderful memories. Through it all my Jesus remains the same. He remains faithful even when I am not. I wish I could say I have an all together, I mess up so much, sometimes it’s hard not to listen to the voice of the enemy telling me that I failed, but I “listen” for that still small voice reminding me, Jesus saying to me, “I love you.”
Amelia Rose–Congratulations on your high school completion! You write with the grace and voice of one much older than a senior in high school. Continue to find your peace, comfort, and strength in God as you make your way out into the world. During your times of doubt, confusion, and temptation, He alone will be there to guide and support you. Find your Bible mantra to aid you in your journey. Mine is Phil 4:13–“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
❤️
Jesus has overcome the world & Satan already, so anything that we encounter we can overcome through & with Him.
I love in Matthew 10:19-20, Jesus encourages us not to be anxious when we speak, “for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking THROUGH you.”
Encouraging to know that God doesn’t leave us to speak by our own word, but by His word!
Reading these verses, I am filled with a joyful reminder of God’s love. He wants us to give Him our lives and says that we are worth more than many sparrows. He desires intimacy and undivided worship. He will give His children the very best, even if that means trials, so I will be satisfied with the very best. “For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. 10 This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” We have every good gift, we have Him. John 17:1-3. 1 Corinthians 1:6-9.