Suffering Is A Part Of The Christian Life

1st Peter 5:7-9, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

Contrary to the garbage taught by the Health, Wealth & Prosperity Charismatic movement, the Bible says that suffering is as much a part of the Christian life as getting saved. I have suffered much in my adult life. I learned from Pastor Jack Hyles (and other preachers too) a long time ago, that the more we suffer the greater God can make use of our life for His glory.

I encourage you to listen to a wonderful sermon by Pastor Jack Hyles titled: "WHY MAMA WAS SO SMART." Dr. Hyles talks about how much his mother suffered. Here two daughters died at age 7. They lost their store business during The Great Depression. Her husband became an abusive wife-beating drunk. Dr. Hyles text verse in Psalms 119:70. I love this sermon!

Also, I recommend listening to this helpful sermon by Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold titled: "THE CALL TO SUFFER." Suffering is as much a part of the Christian life as getting saved.

I wrote any article about the sermon, because it helped me so much.

I don't like to suffer. I despise it! But I have learned that adversity builds men, whereas prosperity ruins men. No pain, no gain. I learned this powerful Bible truth as a teenager...

2nd Corinthians 12:9​-10, “And he​ ​[Jesus] said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

I humbly told the Lord that if allowing me to suffer means that He can use my ministry, and bless it, to reach more people for Christ, then I welcome the suffering for Jesus' and eternity's sake. Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Now on earth it is our time to suffer. Jesus said to labor while it is still day, for the night cometh when no man can work. David said that he learned to number his days, knowing that our time on earth is limited. Psalms 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Most people don't know what it is like to be humbled and broken in life, to lose everything, but I do. I know what it feels like to have everything go wrong in life, and nothing ever returns to normal, with no light at the end of the tunnel. I know the hurt, emotional trauma, and inexplicable pain of soul—from betrayal, divorce, family turmoil, losing my home, poor health, constant chronic neck pain, being alone as a man without a wife. I ordered a book by Pastor M.R. DeHaan (1891-1965) from Amazon.com titled, “BROKEN THINGS: WHY WE SUFFER.” 

I want to share with you a wonderful quote by Dr. DeHaan from page 59:

“The greatest sermons I have ever heard were not preached from pulpits but from sickbeds. The greatest, deepest truths of God's Word have often been revealed, not by those who preached as a result of their seminary preparation and education, but by those humble souls who have gone through the seminary of affliction and have learned experientially the deep things of the ways of God.

The most cheerful people I have met, with few exceptions, have been those who had the least sunshine and the most pain and suffering in their lives. The most grateful people I have met were not those who traveled a pathway of roses all their lives through, but those who were confined, because of circumstances, to their homes—often to their beds. They had learned to depend upon God as only such Christians know how to do.” —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “BROKEN THINGS: WHY WE SUFFER,” page 59; Barbour Publishing, Inc., 1948

Pastor DeHaan goes on to explain the flip-side of the equation, concerning complainers...

“The 'gripers' on the other hand, are usually those who enjoy excellent health. The complainers are those who have the least to complain about. But those dear saints of God who have refreshed my heart again and again and again as they preached from sickbed-pulpits have been the men and women who have been the most cheerful and the most graceful for the blessings of almighty God.

The Bible tells us distinctly that there is a special reward and a special crown which the Lord has prepared and laid up for those who suffer patiently. This principle is suggested by the incident recorded in I Samuel 30.

David, along with 400 strong, healthy men, had gone out to seek the enemy. Two hundreds, however, had remained behind because they were weary and faint, probably because of some physical infirmity. These David had left behind to guard the camp and the equipment of those who went into the heat of the battle. After the victory had been won, the four hundred who had been active participants in the battle refused to share with those who had remained behind and said, 'We'll give them just a little bit, but we're going to take the spoils.

At this point, David stated the eternal principle in the words of 1 Samuel 30:24, 'As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.' 

Those of you who remain by the stuff are not overlooked or forgotten by God: there is a very definite and special reward laid up for God's patient sufferers.

If you, child of God, are upon a bed of illness, if you are being troubled by pain or discouragement, remember that God will always use our suffering for His purposes. Our suffering silences Satan, our suffering enables us to glorify God, our suffering makes us more like Christ, our suffering makes us appreciative, and, ultimately, our suffering teaches us to depend on God.” —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “BROKEN THINGS: WHY WE SUFFER,” page 60; Barbour Publishing, Inc., 1948

I've been at the bottom of life, when there is absolutely NO WHERE TO LOOK EXCEPT UP TO GOD! Brother Lester Roloff was absolutely right, who wisely said:

“A test of a Christian's character is what he does after he comes to the blockade in the road and what his attitude is after everything has left him except Jesus. You will never know down here that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have left. You will never be able to tell the world for sure that He will do in a crisis unless you learn how to live in a crisis.” —Evangelist Lester Roloff (1914-1982), a quote from the sermon, “How To Go On When You Can't”

I have learned the tremendous Bible truth—that God allows me to suffer so I can comfort others who are suffering.

God never promised in the Holy Bible that getting saved will make our life happier, more prosperous or easy. But being a Christian makes life better, because we can go to the Scriptures for comfort and peace. Psalms 119:50, “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”

I love the Old Testament, because it is full of interesting biographies of saints and heathens alike, all given by God for our learning and comfort. When they couldn't see their hand in front of their face, facing an uncertain future, we get the grand privilege and opportunity to see people's lives before, during and after they departed the earth. Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Brother Lester Roloff (1914-1982) is right, the Old Testament will put iron in your blood. That is, you'll get some solid Bible teaching from reading and studying the Old Testament. Having said that dear friend, I encourage you to listen to Alexander Scourby read the Old Testament to you, so you can delve into the biographies of the saints, to learn and find comfort from their true stories. Psalms 119:50, “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”