GOD ALLOWS YOU TO GO THROUGH HARD TIMES

2 Corinthians 1:5

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

How many rousing sermons or best-selling books about “the glory of suffering” have you heard about or read in the last year?

Despite the fact that the Bible speaks in great detail about the certainty of suffering and the undeniable blessing to be found in it, we pretend it doesn’t exist. We don’t discuss it. We rarely make even the slightest attempt to see God’s purposes in it.

The apostle Paul was a man well acquainted with suffering. And Paul came to understand that not only does suffering lead to eventual glory, God uses it to transform us here and now.

Ian McPherson, a wise saint, put it this way, “The bitterest cup with Christ is better than the sweetest cup without him.”

You’ll never draw a big crowd advocating such an idea, but you will draw near to Jesus. 

GOD’S PROMISE TO ME;

• You will one day share my glory.

• You must now share my suffering.

MY PRAYER TO GOD:

Father, suffering is confusing and painful, and it is something I avoid rather than embrace. Teach me to respond in a godly fashion to suffering. Use difficulty in my life to transform me. Amen.