Suffering.

Suffering.

There are so many ways we can suffer. For a lot of people suffering is a daily occurrence. I'm not just talking about physical suffering, but mental, emotional, and yes, spiritual suffering, we suffer.

This life pains us in ways too numerous to really count.

Have you ever heard someone tell you that you've brought hardship on yourself? That you're the cause of your own suffering? They might not be wrong, but that doesn't make it any less painful. I'm sure you've all heard the not so nice phrase- 'Suck it up.' Meaning stop feeling sorry for yourself, we all have issues yours aren't so special that you need the monopoly on the pity stage. Yet, there are times we do need that monopoly, right? During a severe crisis no one begrudges someone their time in the spotlight of suffering. For the everyday- day to day- sufferings we all share in commonly, those are the sufferings we'd rather not see looked upon as being uniquely special to any one person, share that world-wide stage.

Suffering. Did you suffer in any way at all today?

Sometimes the world's suffering cause us to suffer, doesn't it?

Belonging to Christ does not mean we will not suffer, quite the contrary.

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake

In the behalf of Christ… we are to believe on Him, also we are to suffer for Him.

How do we suffer for Christ? We know we are to believe on Him, but how do we suffer for Him? Right now in this world I live in there are people who are claiming Jesus Christ as their Savior and because they make this claim they are being beaten, tortured, murdered. There are people watching their families, wives, daughters, sons, husbands being killed because they say they believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Just for a moment imagine such horror. It's real. It's not movie horror, it's real, it's happening. These people are truly suffering for Christ in the ultimate form of suffering, they are giving their lives as a testimony for Jesus Christ, their Savior.

By the grace of God this isn't so extremely common that most people in the world today have to fear facing such suffering. In most places people can worship Jesus Christ without fear, I say that but do I have all the facts of the matter, no. I think of China where there is such a severe crackdown on Christianity. The government of China wants to control the people and what they believe and they go to great lengths to do so, and China is huge! It's not some small country with a tiny population.

A possibly fact from the internet-

'How much of the world's population is Chinese?

More than half of all people around the globe (3.97 billion) live in just seven countries, according to the UN's estimates. China has the world's largest population (1.42 billion), followed by India (1.35 billion).Jul 11, 2018'

Did you read that? China  has the world's largest population.  That is a country with great strictures on religion. The people there suffer for Christ.

Truly, people suffer for just believing in Christ in many places around the world.

If you're blessed to live in a country that allows you freedom to worship as you choose, then that is one way you aren't exposed to suffering- at least not in that particular form.

As I stated earlier, we all suffer in our own way. I don't know a single person who doesn't have some sort of suffering in their lives. This world is just that bad. We do all we can to stop the suffering we have some control over. We take pills to ease pain, we offer counseling for those with mental and emotional suffering. We try to ease suffering we really do. The world doesn’t just sit back and ignore all the suffering, it tries. It often fails, but it tries to eliminate as much suffering as it can.

Until our Savior returns and evil is ended, we will live with suffering. We will have tribulations and just because we believe in Jesus Christ doesn't make us exempt from suffering.

Our Savior knew we'd suffer not only all the sufferings of this world, but for our belief in Him. You might not be living in fear for your life for your belief, but you will be spiritually hunted by Satan and his spiritual minions- as all Christ followers are. The manifestations of the hunt are littered throughout our lives. Obstacles will be constantly thrown up all around us in all sorts of ways. People just assume that bad things happen all the time to everyone, but all those bad things are orchestrated by Satan and yes, allowed to happen by God. God allows things for the ultimate good to those that are His, this is the hope we have as Christ followers, knowing our suffering is in ways we cannot fully comprehend meant for our good.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 

Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

1Pe 4:14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 

1Pe 2:19  For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 

1Pe 2:20  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 

1Pe 3:14  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

Luk 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 

Luk 6:23  Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 

More on all of this tomorrow by the grace of our LORD, by His love, His will.

May we have some comprehension that all the suffering will one day soon be over for all of us watching and praying as we await the soon return of our Savior, Jesus Christ.