1 PETER 4:13 (NKJV) says: “but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy”
I suffered 37 years with a “thorn in the flesh.” By the grace of God, I trusted Him (not perfectly) with this “thorn” and never got bitter or mad or angry at Him. I waited on Him and He removed the “thorn” in August of 2015 after believing since age 12 that He was able to take it away. And He did! Praise to the Lord!!! God used the 37 years of suffering for my good. I was allowed to share in the sufferings of Christ! It was a 37 year “test” and I passed it! And now I continue to wait for the blessing…that of which will be known as miracle # 9 in my life! By faith I know she is on the way! (Once she arrives – miracle #10 will follow.) You can read more about this in my book!
Faith honors God and God honors faith!
Mark 11:24 says: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” God has blessed me with the faith to believe in the arrival of miracle # 9!
More on suffering…I also endured another major trial for 11 years! God healed some deep heart hurts (heart wounds) from my childhood. I had to face the pain of some traumatic events that I faced during my first 21 years at home. I wasn’t ready to face it until my upper 30s and then God saw I was ready to enter “The Refiner’s Fire”. I walked through the “flames and heat” of the furnace for 11 years. I suffered everyday as He was performing “spiritual open heart surgery” on me. It was unspeakable suffering that mostly God knows about. A handful of friends witnessed the suffering as well. I clung to 2 scriptures for a decade of my life. They were my part of my “life line” that kept me going. Here they are: Psalm 126:5 (NKJV) Those who sow in tears –Shall reap in joy. And from Psalm 147:3 (NKJV) “He heals the brokenhearted –And binds up their wounds.” God (His Word, these verses) came through for me after shedding a decade of tears – tears which were a blessing – and the outlet for the pain to be released! And God’s Word says He captures all of a believer’s tears in a bottle! Psalm 56:8 “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?” I wonder how many bottles of tears God has of mine? I tell you the truth, those tears are now coming back to me as tears of joy! God is good! God is faithful! God’s love has healed my heart!
Trust Him and look to Him when you suffer. There is a diving purpose for suffering in the life of a born-again christian. And in the life of an unbeliever, the suffering is there to point you to Jesus (a wake up call.) He came to save not to condemn. The grace of God is greater than any sin. Doesn’t matter what it is. He can forgive it.
Every trial, every hurt, and every form of suffering in the life of one of His children is “father filtered.” If God brought you to it – He will see you through it or even remove it. Know that God loves you.