We Suffer

2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Too many believe that if you are a child of Christ's that you shouldn't suffer, yet how can that be true if what we read in the above verses is truth?

'We are troubled on every side.'  Does this sound like not suffering?

'We are perplexed.' Does this sound like not suffering?

'Persecuted, cast down, bearing about the dying of the Lord Jesus' Does all that sound like not suffering?

Yet in ALL suffering we who have Christ as our GOD- should not be 'distressed', not be 'in despair', not 'forsaken', not 'destroyed'.

So why are we so very often in distress? Why are we in despair? Why do we feel forsaken and destroyed? 

We need to learn to trust in our God.

We need to comprehend the same treatment of our Lord is the treatment we will very likely meet if we walk the walk of Christ.  Yet we shirk from ever doing anything that will bring us distress, despair, suffering of any sort. 

God, please help us. We are so incredibly weak. I am weak! I am a very poor example of what we need to be! Forgive me! Please, Lord, forgive me!

For Your sake we endure suffering, the same suffering You endured.  You did not come and settle yourself to fit into the crowd, you stood out from the crowd. You endured the ridicule heaped upon You for being different, for standing up for all You believe- the truth.

Forgive me, please, forgive me.