The Apostle Paul Suffered Much. The apostle Paul faced many difficulties in his life, more than almost anyone else. In the book of Acts, chapter 14, we are told he was stoned and left for dead by an angry mob. In Acts 16, he was beaten and put in prison. In Acts 21, a crowd beat him to kill him but his life was saved by a Roman Centurian.

Paul was subjected to hunger, weariness, pain, homelessness, hard labor, shipwreck, arrests, beatings, stonings, imprisonment, and fraudulent court trials. And yet he never gave up or gave in. He continued to trust in God and believed God had a good purpose for him in all his difficulties.

We All Suffer. It is unlikely that we will ever suffer the way Paul did, but we will all surely face difficulties in our lives. How we face them will make all the difference. Through Paul, the Lord has graciously given us a means of coping which can bring peace, a sense of security, even serenity, and the assurance that God is with us and will enable us to go through whatever we must face and do it courageously.

Why Suffering? Many ask, why do we have problems, why suffering? While this article is not focused on discussing “the problem of pain,” we will say this: When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he set in motion God’s judgment on all creation. Since then, there has been death, sickness, guilt, shame, and alienation from God, others, self, and the environment. Until Jesus returns, this “fallen” state of creation will remain. Suffering then, is the direct result of mankind’s sin, and to be honest, all of us are guilty before God and share in the blame, because we all have sinned.

Paul’s Words Can Help Us. Paul knew how to manage his suffering, so when Paul instructs us on how to handle our suffering, we do well to listen and learn from him. He has given us an effective way to cope with suffering in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. The passage reads:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

“We are:

1. hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
2. perplexed, but not in despair;
3. persecuted, but not abandoned;
4. struck down, but not destroyed.

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

“It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.

“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

“Therefore,
1. We do not lose heart.
2. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
3. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
4. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” NIV.

Jars of Clay. These verses tell us that we are like “jars of clay,” that is , we are fragile and are therefore vulnerable to internal and external pressures. Our ability to endure suffering has limits. Humility accepts this and turns to God for help.

“Treasure” In Us. This passage also says we have “this treasure” in us. What treasure? Doug Stewart, in his article, “God’s Treasure In Us” on this website, describes this treasure for us. He quotes the verse preceding his passage, which reads: “For God…made his light shine in our hearts to give us the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” II Corinthians 4:6. NIV. The treasure then is “the knowledge of God in Christ,” or more simply, “knowing God through Jesus.”

Doug goes on to tell us that “this treasure has supreme value, can never be taken from us, and is life-giving to us. It transforms our thinking, our lives, our purpose, and gives us “new energy” to live for Christ. In fact, “this treasure” which is “Christ in us,” is what enables us to face and effectively deal with suffering.

A Divine Purpose. The passage also indicates that there is a Divine purpose in our suffering. When we call on the Lord out of our human frailty to assist us with matters that are beyond us, the help God gives is seen to be the result of God’s “all surpassing power” and he gets the glory.

This places things in the proper perspective. We, as created beings have limitations and need to rely on our Creator for assistance. God, the Creator who needs no one to help him, loves us and is able to demonstrate his infinite authority and power and receive the glory, recognition, and worship to which he is entitled when we call on him for help.

The Difficulties. What are the difficulties Paul describes? He says we are: “hard pressed – subject to stress and pressure; “perplexed” – puzzled, confused, bewildered, uncertain; “persecuted” – opposed, harassed, afflicted, injured by an enemy of Christ; and “struck down” – hit physically to injure.

Our Response. But then what will our response be with Christ’s strength in us? We will be “not crushed” by pressure; “not in despair” over perplexity; “not abandoned” though persecuted; and “not destroyed” by physical attack. This gives us HOPE! God is with us and keeps watch over us in each of these difficult situations.

Our Suffering Reflects the Suffering of Christ. Paul then tells us that just as Jesus died but rose again, so we experience “the death of Jesus” in our body so that the surpassing power of Jesus’ life may be revealed in us as well.

All Suffering Will Disappear. Further, in the final resurrection, we will receive glorified bodies like the resurrection body of Jesus Christ and all earthly suffering will disappear.

Suffering May Produce Much Blessing. Also, when the suffering experienced in Christian ministry results in “reaching more and more people,” this causes great thanksgiving and glory to God.

Paul’s Conclusion. Paul concludes by saying “We do not lose heart,” because of daily inward renewal, an eternal perspective, and a Godly (Biblical) mindset.

In this passage we learn several important things. It tells us that our human limitations set the stage for the revelation and demonstration of the power of God when his “all surpassing power” is seen in our lives. Also we learn that God places limits on suffering. For Paul and his disciples, suffering could not disable or destroy them because God was with them; he protected their bodies and spirits by his power. Also we learn that we will have problems, just as Paul did, but they will not defeat us.

All Christians Suffer. All believers will experience pressure, stress, burdens, and trouble, but they will not be “crushed,” that is , they will not become disabled. Likewise, Christians may become “perplexed,” bewildered, confused, and uncertain; but need not be driven to despair. Some Christians will be “persecuted,” pursued by those who are against them with intent to injure them. But they will never be abandoned, forsaken, or left alone by God who is always present with them. Finally, in extreme situations, Christians may be “struck down,” hit, injured, or knocked down, but God is still with them and can save them from mortal injury.

There is Hope. If we are “not crushed” we will still be able to function. If we are “not in despair” we then have hope and an expectation of help from God. If we are “not abandoned” we know we have God and Jesus’ Presence with us NOW! And, if we are “not destroyed” we are protected, shielded, and preserved by God.

Suffering Reveals Jesus. Further, our suffering is a way for “the life of Jesus to be revealed in our body.” In the Old Testament, God reveals the life of Jesus through prophecy. In the New Testament, Jesus is physically present in the world and is revealed as the Son of God. Now that he has returned to heaven, he is being revealed through Christians who follow him (as well as through the Word of God). So when we suffer in faith, Jesus is revealed to the world. His power and glory shine through.

By Suffering In Faith, We Bless Jesus. Verse 11 says, “We who are alive…are given over to death, for Jesus sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.” It is “for his sake” that we suffer. Thus Jesus is pleased and blessed when his life is revealed through us. This is one of the reasons he died – to reveal himself through us. We can be a part of this blessing by choosing to rely on him in our suffering. By suffering well, in faith, we can actually, in real time, satisfy the heart’s desire of Jesus.

This is what love does, it sacrifices for the benefit of another. Because we truly love him, we consider it a privilege to suffer for him so that his purpose can be fulfilled and his glory revealed. His gifts of mercy and forgiveness are so great, there is no way to repay him. But what we can do is trust him, knowing that he is wise, kind, gracious, and loving, no matter how difficult the circumstances become. And we can pray to him, asking for his help, confident he will come along beside us and sustain us through every difficulty.

There aren’t many things we can give to the God who created everything. But we love him and want to give something back to him. We can do this by giving him what we have – our love, faith, obedience, reverence and worship. We can also give him the gift of allowing Jesus to be revealed in our lives when in suffering. I think this is a special gift to God, one in which he delights.

God Renews us Daily. The passage goes on to tell us that we will receive an “inward renewal daily.” This renewal comes from God! It comes from Jesus! This implies, of course, that we on our own cannot adequately handle the deeply challenging, heart-wrenching, complicated, overwhelming problems of life on our own. We need a Savior and the God of heaven to guide, support, instruct, correct, encourage and enable us. It also lets us know that He is there and providing the help we need on a daily basis.

A Heavenly Perspective. Next, we are told that by comparing our trials with the astounding rewards of heaven, we can understand that our problems are “light” and are “temporary.” A heavenly view of earthly suffering reveals its “smallness” and “brief duration.” That is, our eternal glory will far outweigh all our earthly suffering.

Finally, we are reminded that God’s heaven is real, though invisible. We are invited to look at the eternal through the revelation of Scripture. This will enable us to put temporal suffering in its proper perspective.

In order to effectively deal with our trials, we need to know some things about God, ourselves, what God has provided, the nature of suffering, and how God views our afflictions. Having such information is critical if we are to succeed.

We need to know that God loves us, that he is all wise and is therefore trustworthy in all circumstances. We must understand that God allows suffering and yet limits and controls it.

Also, we need to know that God has multiple purposes for suffering: It makes us more like Christ who obeyed his heavenly Father, suffered, and was then rewarded. Our suffering may benefit others. Suffering earns eternal rewards for us. It helps fulfill God’s particular plan for our own lives. It strengthens our faith when we trust God and see him come through. It draws us closer to him when circumstances compel us to go to him for help. It glorifies God when the “all-surpassing power” of Christ is revealed to the world. It prepares us for heaven as obedient sons and daughters of God. And it accomplishes God’s overriding higher purposes.

Further, we need to know that Christ dwells in us by the Holy Spirit, who gives us strength to deal with our trials. And we must understand that we are made by God to be dependent on him, so we will learn to turn to him first when trouble comes. Also we should know that his help comes to us in very specific ways that are designed to meet the very problems we face. Most importantly, we must remember that his indwelling spirit “renews our spirit daily.” He is present in the moment, every day to encourage, strengthen, and help our spirit. We know his presence and we know his help daily! We are not alone in suffering. He is with us NOW!

Finally, we need to know that a time is coming when all suffering will end. Knowing this sets the stage for developing a new perspective on suffering, one that is based in eternity and in heaven.

To exercise faith regarding our problems, each of us has to decide if the information about suffering in the Bible and in the passage we’ve discussed is actually true. Most Christians will say, “Yes, it’s true because God said it.” If you agree that the information is true, you will then have to be sure that you understand it. This will require some amount of review, reflection, and contemplation.

At this point we let the information sink in. We experience the Words of God as Truth which applies directly to us! We become fully persuaded. The Truth becomes more real because the Holy Spirit helps us to own it as absolute fact for our life and our situation. Following this, and this is a most important step, each or us must give ourselves over to God and trust him completely for everything he has told us. I Peter 5:7 speaks to this idea of trust:

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on him, for he cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” Amplified Bible.

By consciously and deliberately placing absolute trust in God, we then will be able to believe in his wisdom and love, understand that he has a purpose in suffering, know that he is in control, and rely on the Holy spirit to minister to our needs.

The earthly perspective leads us to think that we are under pressure, bewildered, persecuted, or under attack. The earthly perspective leaves us in our predicament. It offers no way out. The heavenly perspective does not deny these realities, but it places a heavenly interpretation on what they mean.

If we have only the earthly perspective, we may give up and be unable to function; we may become despairing and lose hope; we may feel alone and defenseless and helpless; or we may give in to fear.

The heavenly perspective tells us our troubles are “light” when they feel heavy. It tells us they are “momentary” when they seem endless. And happily, it tells us that our troubles are achieving rewards which are far beyond our ability to imagine which will last forever.

The Amplified Bible reads: “For our light, momentary affliction…is ever…preparing for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons…, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!] II Corinthians 4:17.

The Intensity Perspective. When we get to heaven and look back at our earthly trials, they will seem as nothing to us. We will not be distressed by them and we will understand them to have been “light,” that is, of minor importance and of little effect. They won’t amount to “a hill of beans” as the saying goes. So, why not adopt the heavenly view now? Why place undue importance on our problems when God is with us and sufficient to help us through?

The Rewards Perspective. Also, when we realize that our godly suffering is earning incredible rewards for us, we can relax a bit as well as be encouraged that our obedience to God is not only good in itself, but is more than “worth it” because of these rewards.

The Time Perspective. The suffering we experience is temporal, that is, temporary, brief, fleeting, or in the moment. The rewards of heaven last for all eternity. They will never end. How marvelous! How wonderful! This really puts a different perspective on suffering in this life. We are not minimizing the problems people face such as intractable pain, difficult relationships, terminal illness, etcetera. But even extreme suffering takes on a different light in view of eternity.

Knowing that a particular trial or problem will end makes it easier to bear. So we should remind ourselves that all our trials will end. Also, knowing that a blessing will continue makes it even more of a blessing. In heaven, our rewards will be made even more special because they will be eternal.

To cope with our difficulties effectively, we must acquire the knowledge that God provides about suffering. Then, we must accept this knowledge as true. Finally, we must fully trust God, submitting to the truth of the knowledge he has provided. Further, we must understand God’s heavenly perspective, realize that it also is true, and adopt it as our own when we face trials.

Once we have the knowledge, and have adopted the heavenly perspective, what do we do? The passage tells us to “fix our eyes” on the unseen which is eternal. II Corinthians 4:18. NIV. Our attention is to be riveted on God’s eternal realities. We are to take an intentional and intense look at that which God tells us to observe. This means we adopt a new focus, a new mindset when problems arise.

This phrase also means we are to look away from the seen and the temporal with regard to the interpretation of our problems. We do not deny that they exist or fail to do what is in our power to deal with them, such as getting medical treatment, but we learn to view them differently.

This sets our spirits free. We’re no longer bound by helplessness, loss of hope, or fear. We know that God is present and trust that he is at work for us and has a purpose for our suffering which is temporary and yields eternal rewards.

We Have a Choice. The question is, will we continue to view life from the earthly perspective, or will we adopt the heavenly view? With God’s perspective, the future informs the present, the invisible informs the visible, and the eternal informs the temporal. With the earthly perspective, the present, visible, and temporal are all there is. There is therefore no place for hope or deliverance. We have a choice every time we suffer. Will we make the transition to the heavenly perspective when facing suffering?

So we see that the best way to live well here on earth is to focus on what God has for us there in heaven. When we “see” the unseen and the eternal by faith, our lives are made much better. But if we miss “seeing” the unseen and the eternal, we miss out on the comfort, help, and assurance God wants to give us.

Paul says “We do not lose heart” twice in this passage. He says it first in II Corinthians 4, verse 1 and the second time in verse 16. How could he say this given that he had been subjected to numerous and severe trials and episodes of suffering? The reason given for the first mention is that God had given Paul and the church “this ministry” That is, it was God who brought Paul and other Christians to the place of witness for Christ and the sufferings that went along with it. So if it is God who has called Paul to a life of sacrifice, it is a good thing, because God is love and God is trustworthy. He knows what he’s doing and his purposes are good. Knowing that God arranged this made it okay for Paul. And if God arranged for Paul to suffer, Paul could be sure that there would be a satisfactory and glorious end to it.

The second time “We do not lose heart” is mentioned in verse 16, the reasons given for this courageous attitude are found in the preceding verses which include both the knowledge about suffering and the heavenly perspective which we discussed earlier. If Paul did not lose heart, then we need not lose heart as well. He clearly knew what suffering was about and the Christ who sustained him will also sustain us.

In verse 16, Paul continues, saying “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Here Paul acknowledges the hardships of life and their toll on us (“wasting away day by day”) while also recognizing the supply of God’s sufficient grace day by day to our inward life, to our spirit.

So we must ask, how does such an inward renewal take place? When we have the knowledge about suffering God has provided, have trusted that it is true, have understood the heavenly perspective, and have focused on the eternal, what’s next? How do we proceed when faced with physical pain, illness, relationship problems, loss, crises, persecution, and other trials?

The answer lies in recognizing that Christ lives in us by his Holy Spirit, both to guide us and to sustain us. Psalm 32:8 reads, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye.” NKJV. Here the Lord promises to instruct and teach us regarding the daily decisions we have to make in life. He reminds us that it is his eye that provides the wisdom we need. And since he is God, he knows everything and sees everything. His wisdom is perfect; his advice, faultless.

Psalm 34, verse 6 says, “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. NIV. In Isaiah 40: 28-31 we read “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth…. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in (wait upon) the LORD will renew their strength.” NIV. These verses tell us that God rescues us, helps us, sustains us, renews us. He will meet us with sufficient grace in every trial.

The next question we must ask is how do we access God’s vast wisdom and counsel? The answer: We go to the Word of God and we Pray! We read the Scripture and talk to God. When facing trouble, we can ask him specific questions pertaining to our crisis. He promises to hear our prayers and answer them when we pray in faith and purity. I John 5:14-15 tells us “ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” NIV.

There is a centuries old method for approaching God in order to draw near to him and to hear his voice. We recommend it as a pattern for fellowship with God, for worship, and for dealing with suffering. It is called Lectio Divina.

“Lectio Divina is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s Word.”¹Thompson, Marjorie; Howard, Evan B. April 19, 2005. Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 24. “Traditionally, Lectio Divina has four separate steps: read, meditate, pray, contemplate. First a passage of Scripture is read, then its meaning is reflected upon. This is followed by prayer and contemplation of the Word of God.”²Cunningham, Lawrence S. and Egan, Keith J. 1996. Christian Spirituality: Themes From the Tradition. Paulist Press. p. 38.

Preparation. “In order to achieve a calm and tranquil state of mind, preparation before Lectio Divina is recommended. The Biblical admonition for preparation via stillness is Psalm 46:10: ‘Be still and know that I am God.’³Benner, David G. 2010. Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer. IV Press. p. 47-53. An example would be sitting quietly and in silence and reciting a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide the reading of the Scripture that is to follow.”⁴Linman, Johathan. 2010. Holy Conversation: Spirituality for worship. p. 32-37.

I Corinthians 2:9-10: gives us a basis for expecting the Holy Spirit to actively reveal the heart and mind of God to us when we enter into this process. It reads: “These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”⁵Linman, Johathan. 2010. Holy Conversation: Spirituality for worship. p. 32-37.

Reading. “The first movement of Lectio Divina is the slow and gradual reading of the scriptural passage, perhaps several times.⁶Benner, David G. 2010. Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer. IV Press. p. 47-53. The Biblical basis for the reading goes back to Romans 10:8-10 (which speaks of ) the presence of God’s word in the believer’s ‘mouth or heart.’ The attentive reading begins the process through which a higher level of understanding can be achieved.”⁷Linman, Johathan. 2010. Holy Conversation: Spirituality for worship. p. 32-37.

Meditation. “Although Lectio Divina involves reading, it is less a practice of reading than one of listening to the inner message of the Scripture delivered through the Holy Spirit. Lectio Divina does not (primarily) seek information or motivation, but communion with God.”⁸Benner, David G. 2010. Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer. IV Press. p. 47-53. “The second movement of Lectio Divina thus involves meditating upon and pondering on the scriptural passage. When the passage is read, it is generally advised…to wait for the action of the Holy Spirit to illumine the mind, as the passage is pondered upon.”⁹Benner, David G. 2010. Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer. IV Press. p. 47-53.

Prayer. “Prayer is understood a dialogue with God, that is, a loving conversation with God who has invited us into an embrace.”¹⁰Rabb, Christian and Hagen, Harry. 2007. The Tradition of Catholic Prayer. p. 202 and Vatican Website. Dei Verbum. Here we talk with God about our current situation: our hopes, our fears, our wishes, our prayers for help in dealing with our difficulties. We can tell him anything and everything. We hear his voice in the scriptures. What is God saying in his Word? How does that apply to my situation? Is he teaching me something? Is he giving me direction? Is he speaking peace to my heart? Is he giving me assurance about my situation? We talk to Him and we listen. We hear Him and receive his words of love and comfort. We sense that he is there and it is enough. God is Present with us.

Contemplation. One type of contemplation “takes place in terms of silent prayer that expresses love for God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines contemplative prayer as ‘the hearing the word of God’ in an attentive mode.”¹¹Vatican Website Catechism Items. 2716-2717. Here in the fourth movement of Lectio Divina, after a person has made preparations, read the scripture attentively, meditated on the scriptural passage, entered into prayer, contemplated the passage he has read, examined the message of the Holy Spirit to him through the passage, he now can think about how God’s Word and message apply to his life in real time. He can begin to make decisions about his circumstances. He can begin to plan actions. He has been given direction and courage which propels him forward. God has spoken to him and God is with him. He has a firm basis for moving ahead. And when he keeps coming back, day after day to meet with God, he will continue to get the guidance and help he needs.¹²Note: Thanks to Ted Boggs, friend and Bible Teacher for his insights on the nature of faith and his teaching on Lectio Divina.

Abiding in Jesus. In John 15:1,5 Jesus said, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener…you are the branches. If a man remains (abides) in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” NIV. The concept of abiding in Christ and Christ in us in order to bear good fruit is the same as drawing near to God in Lectio Divina. Both involve communion with Christ who talks with us, guides us, and enables us to deal with all of life. Both involve faith and obedience.

How precious it is that our Savior Jesus wants to be so close to us that he dwells in us and we in him! In this intimate relationship of the Spirit, he ministers to those who draw near to him to receive his grace.

We must be careful to keep a good attitude when we go through trials. It’s easy to drift into unhelpful and even harmful thinking, which then can intensify the problems we’re facing even more.

Unhelpful Attitudes. We may be tempted to adopt certain unhelpful attitudes. Some examples are: bitterness, resentment, self-pity, disappointment, frustration, impatience, anger, complaining, grumbling, blaming others, discouragement, doubt, giving up, feeling overwhelmed, feeling hopeless, feeling alone, fear, anxiety, worry, or depression.

Of course we’re human and we’re likely to feel some of these things. But Christ in us can lead us away from such thinking and give us godly attitudes based on faith in God’s truth. We need to run away from these as quickly as possible and seek Christ’s help to give us a heavenly perspective.

Helpful Attitudes. Helpful attitudes are formed when we learn God’s truth, commit ourselves to it, know and trust in God’s heavenly perspective, rely on the indwelling Holy Spirit, and draw near to God in scripture reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation.

Helpful attitudes include: absolute faith in God – in his love, care, wisdom, good purposes, trustworthiness, faithfulness, and sufficiency. Also, belief that he is in control, sets limits on suffering, and that he works in our lives for good. Also, the perspective that trials are really of minor importance, temporary, and a basis for heavenly rewards. Also, having a focus on God’s heavenly reality and an attitude of positive expectation of what God will do in our situation. Such attitudes yield feelings of peace, contentment, hopefulness, confidence, strength, boldness, cheerfulness, thanksgiving and praise to God, and the response of unquestioned obedience.

We should ask how we are feeling in the middle of our suffering. How we feel will help us identify whether we are looking at things from the world’s point of view or from God’s perspective. If it’s from the world’s point of view, then we can run to Christ who will help us handle our problems with faith and obedience.

Avoid Sin. The apostle Peter also instructs us regarding suffering. In I Peter 4:1,13,19 he says: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will, should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” NIV.

These passages can be summarized this way: Be careful not to enter into a sinful pattern of thought or behavior when you suffer. Rather adopt Christ’s attitude of obedience toward God. You will be rewarded at the last judgment and will rejoice exceedingly and give glory to God when Christ’s amazing splendor is revealed at the end time. In other words, don’t be lured into sin because of suffering. Don’t adopt unhelpful and destructive attitudes. Adopt helpful attitudes and experience God’s presence, peace, and contentment.

There are many kinds of suffering, but the ending of life itself is arguably the most extreme form of suffering. What if we are threatened with death? Paul gives us an answer in the next chapter in II Corinthians 5:1-8.

“For we know that if the earthly tent (body)we live in is destroyed (killed) , we have a building (glorified body) from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” “Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling. “Now it is God who has fashioned us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” II Corinthians 5:1,2,5. NIV.

Paul continues. “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” II Corinthians 5:6-8. NIV.

Here Paul indicates that for the Christian death is the passageway to a better state of being and to a better place, in the presence of God. We simply do not need to fear death. In fact, Paul is looking forward to being in heaven (when it is God’s time for him to die) where he will be “clothed” with an immortal body and be in the presence of his Lord. And Paul is totally confident this is true. He reminds us that “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Faith in our faithful God is the means we are given to handle suffering, even the most extreme kind.

The Firing Squad. Years ago, I heard a sermon in the United States by a pastor who lived under the rule of communism behind the Iron Curtain. He told this story. He had been persecuted for his faith and for his witness to Christ over a period of time. At some point, the authorities brought him before a firing squad. He fully expected to die. They positioned him in front of a row of soldiers with rifles. The senior officer gave these commands: Ready, Aim, Fire. But they didn’t fire. They were intimidating him.

He said that he always wondered how the early Christians were able to face torture, the lions, and death. Now he knew. Just as the commands were being shouted, the Holy Spirit gave him incredible peace and a sense of His presence, so that he was not afraid. This story tells me that God can and will meet us in our suffering of any kind and that we can confidently rely on him.

Suffering is normal, expected, and universal. We all suffer. The apostle Paul offers us a way to cope with the trials we encounter in II Corinthians 4 and 5.

There are certain things we need to learn in order to deal with suffering effectively. We need to know that Christ lives in us to help us, that suffering has a divine purpose, that God places limits on suffering, that our human limitations set the stage for the demonstration of God’s power and glory, that God is with us to renew us daily, that there is a heavenly perspective which overshadows our earthly experience, and that all suffering will end eventually.

However, knowing is not enough. We must trust that what we have learned about suffering is true and place absolute faith in God and his promises. Then we are to focus intently on the eternal, which is invisible, yet totally real and dependable.

Help arrives when we come into the presence of our Lord daily and allow him to guide and sustain us. A method for meeting with God daily and receiving from him what we need is called Lectio Divina. We recommend it highly. Also we should remember to keep a good attitude and not sin as a result of the pain of suffering.

Paul encourages us to trust God even if the worst type of suffering comes, the loss of our lives. Here also God is sufficient to help us and keep us in his care and love.

God’s promises are true. His eternal, invisible future is solid as a rock. It is reliable and trustworthy. It gives us a firm basis for enduring suffering, for keeping a good attitude (of thanksgiving and praise to God), for knowing God’s peace (knowing he is in control), and for pressing on in the service of the Lord (because he will reward us lavishly). We may have absolute confidence that he will sustain us and all will be well in the end.

The goal for Christians should be to live by faith so that even when we are in the midst of suffering, we find God’s peace. We know that living by faith will take work and we will do it imperfectly. Nevertheless, we should press on, confident that He is faithful to his promises and true to His Word.

We conclude with several passages from the Bible.

“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles,” “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Psalm 34:4,6,19. KJV.

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth beside You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.” Psalm 73:25,26. Amplified Bible.

“I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” Philippians 4:13. Amplified Bible.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Hebrews 4:14. KJV.

“For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.” Hebrews 4:15. Amplified Bible.

“Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (Amplified Bible) that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” KJV. Hebrews 4:16.

Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us that: Jesus Christ entered into the heavenlies as our Great High Priest, bringing his own blood as the all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins, thereby satisfying the justice of God the Father and making it possible for Him to forgive and cleanse us from all our sins so we could have a relationship with Him.

As a man who lived on earth and experienced the struggles, difficulties, and suffering that we experience, he has perfect empathy for us and complete understanding of the problems we face.

And because of his love and compassion, we, as his children, are welcomed and encouraged to boldly, confidently, and fearlessly approach Him to obtain mercy for our sins and grace to help us in every situation.

He is our Source! He is Compassionate! He is All-Sufficient!

He is God!