Daily Devotional – 2/4/16 “For if we suffer!”

Sometimes the suffering God allows us to go through isn’t about us. Now, please understand, I am not talking about the self-made suffering we put ourselves through but I’m only referring to God ordained suffering. The way Job suffered, the way you have to suffer through a storm or test, the way you have to suffer through sickness or even being persecuted for what and who you believe in. You know suffering on God’s behalf. And how do I know our suffering isn’t about us? Well, the bible says in Romans 5:3-5, “More than that, 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.” See, suffering on God’s behalf is about Him pulling out the best in us. Didn’t you read what suffering produces? How else can God get the best out of us lest we suffer? Oh, I know you thought it was about you but no boo, it’s about the God that’s within you.

No, it doesn’t feel good but when has suffering ever made you jump up in the morning saying, “I want to suffer today?” but get this … 1 Peter 5:10, tells me “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” This means it only pays off AFTER the suffering. After your sickness your health shall be restored. After your weakness, your strength shall be restored. After folks have made a mockery of your name, it shall be established. And after you’ve lost, it all shall be restored. I don’t know about you but this makes the journey that much more worth walking. I don’t know if you get it but it has made me realize that even when I have to go by myself, it’ll pay off. Even when I’m being lied on, prosecuted on false charges, beaten down for being blessed, walked over for being worthy, doubted for being delivered and singled out for being saved; my suffering will pay off. For if I suffer, for if you suffer, for if we suffer; WE shall gain eternal life! That’s everlasting, never-ending, forever, having neither beginning nor end; no start or stop time, no cancellation or expiration date but having undying life! Yea, you can shout now! For Romans 8:18 sums it with, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”