Post No. 10 - Reading Time: 5:15

It’s amazing to me how much suffering goes on around me. I know I sometimes dwell on it too much and it gets me down. It’s always been hard for me to maintain my joy when I see so many people I care for going through a time of suffering, or grief, or even difficulty coping. Yes, we live in a society that is simply too complex, moves too fast, and drains us each and every day.

Then there’s all the suffering which goes on around me and around the world that I know nothing about. Sometimes I’m indifferent to it and sometimes there is nothing I can do about it but cast my cares on the Lord.

“ ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” - 1st Peter 5:6,7 (KJV)

Yes, it’s humbling, when faced with so much suffering, to admit you can’t deal with it all. How big the heart of the Father must be to take it all in and still care so much for each of us. He is with us in our sufferings. That’s why you have to make a decision each day to focus on the Lord. Focusing on suffering draws you into it. And the odd thing is, if we focus too much on it, then our suffering actually outlasts the situation we are dealing with.

Seasons Change

Yes, much suffering is seasonal. I know that doesn’t diminish what you may have gone through, but I’m trying to let us see what we focus on is what our hearts and minds move towards. I’ve heard people say, “Nothing ever goes right for me.” That’s not actually true, it’s just where their focus is at the moment. There have been many blessings (recognized or not) that have overtaken each of our lives from time to time. Notwithstanding, we live in a fallen world where suffering is a normal part of our lives. No one is exempt from seasons of suffering.

Again, it’s what we focus on that matters. To move through each season of suffering we must set our hope on what lies beyond what we are currently enduring. That’s actually how we endure the suffering of the moment. It was said of our Savior, Jesus, that he too endured suffering, but he didn’t live there. Why? Because he could see beyond the cross and the grave to the resurrection life that lay before him, if he would faithfully endure.

Look at what Hebrews tells us that we can learn from his suffering:

“ ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer [KJV: author] and perfecter [KJV: finisher] of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” - Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Don’t Lose Heart

Yes, we can lose heart in times of seasonal suffering if we lose our focus on the good things of God and dwell on what we have suffered. For God to restore our joy in this life, we must direct our eyes unto Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith.” (See above.)

Faith always sees God’s loving hand in the midst of our struggles. He is always working out things for our good (Romans 8:28). Therefore we can always have hope, even while we suffer for a while. In the end, it will still bring about good things for us and others, as they see your faith and hope in the midst of your suffering. These are the things that give us endurance and even help us to win the battles we face—battles of fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, and regret.

Even through you may feel that this current suffering will go on forever, it’s seasonal. There are still many more joys ahead of you. Compared to an eternity of joy in the presence of the Lord, the Bible would even tell us that these sufferings are momentary.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” - 2nd Corinthians 14:17 (NIV)

Everything is Momentary

When you think about it, even the joys we experience in our lives are momentary. As I sit here this morning writing this blog post, sipping my coffee, and eating a muffin Susan made for me, I thought, “I wish this moment of pleasure could last from now on.” However, I can’t eat that many muffins without suffering for it, but I can enjoy it for a moment. Remember that about suffering: It’s momentary and light, compared to the eternal joy given to us by God.

“Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” - Psalm 30:5 (KJV)

Allergy season is coming up. Many people suffer during this time, but they call it seasonal allergies for a reason. It passes as the seasons changes. Soon another season will come upon your life. Until then endure with joy, God cares for you (1st Peter 5:7).

As the first verse of an old hymn goes:

Be not dismayed whate'er betide, God will take care of you.

Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.

Until next Monday, may the Lord bless you! Pray for us!

Pastor Brian Jenkins

Calvary Assemblies of God