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For God Knows Our Suffering
by stephanie reck If we pray for a stronger faith, we can expect some testing of our faith. Why do we suffer? What do we do with our suffering? Does God have a plan for our suffering and trials? True faith will be tested. Ouch! One of the hardest things to remember during suffering is the focus being on making our faith to be strengthened, it must go through the refiner's fire. Just like Job in God's Word, God can and does allow Satan to test us to see how strong a believer's trust in God is. Ouch! Again, do you believe God might be allowing some testing in your life right now? God sets the limits on how much suffering we will endure, just like Job. God does not want us to suffer, nor is He being cruel or unfair. However, we sometimes make things or people are idols, and we put these idols above our God. Other times our character needs refining by the Holy Spirit. Do you have a desire to serve Christ? Then He has to cleanse you and refine you, and sometimes this can only happen in the context of refinement through suffering. You will be purged and cleansed during times of deep suffering, and sometimes nothing else will cause us to undergo this type of purging than suffering. Maybe your suffering is not a direct result of sin, although it can be. Sometime, yes, we live in a fallen world and suffering happens, but sometimes God allows suffering to refine our character. We will be strengthened for God's service, if we do not become bitter and angry towards God. After our trial and suffering, we are never the same, unless you have allowed an attitude of anger, bitterness, self-pity, and doubt. The trial exposes our weaknesses and deepens our strength and opportunities for ministry. The tears of our trials are what God uses to change our hearts, painfully, but for purpose. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into the grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy spirit, who He has given us. Romans 5:1-5, NIV Do not give up! Keep going. The Lord has His eyes upon you and your situations. God is for you and will use everything for His glory. Stephanie R. Reck, LMSW, LBT, BCCC Stephanie Reck, Coaching & Consultation Services www.stephaniereck.com [email protected] Stephanie Reck Coaching & Consultation Services, @2024 Author of, "Disciplining Your Mind 30 Days to a Better You!" Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |