Should We Rejoice In Suffering?

Is the Question Why or Who?

My heart is heavy as we traverse through this trial. As far as I’m concerned it’s already gone on too long, but my Dad above has a different plan. His timing doesn’t always concur with what I would like.
It’s hard and all kinds of questions come to mind. Most of the questions begin with why? Yet I think there is a sense in which if I focus too much on the circumstances that It’s easy to get down.

The Psalmist’s Heavy Heart

I can identify with the Psalmist when he pens Psalm 42:1-5

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation” ESV

I have to remind myself again and again to hope in God.
Through friends, family and the Word of God I’m reminded to focus on the who. It gives me comfort to know the who that is somehow using even the worst of circumstances in my life. I’m grateful that the who is my ‘abba’ Father, my daddy. He is working to build patience, character and hope in me and my family.

The Value of Suffering – Rejoice

Romans 5:1-5 reminds me of God’s commitment to us.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” ESV

Paul exhorts us to rejoice in our sufferings, which seems absurd at first glance. Yet he isn’t encouraging us to rejoice, because we enjoy suffering, or that we are masochist. It’s what the trials produce in us that Paul wants us to see joy in. Our Lord is very committed to his good work in us. He digs deep, in order to build a strong foundation.
Now that is a reason to rejoice. Lord, keep my eyes on Jesus. Keep me focused on your good work!
In His Grip, Dave
DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org