To grow solid through suffering, humble yourself before God (5:6-7). We will be like him when he appears (3:2). Hannah complained loudly about her childlessness. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have … Her irritating stomach ache never returned after that first appointment. Let us join with Job and affirm with all of our hearts the absolute sovereignty of God in our suffering. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2; When we trust in God we are not afraid. “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; … Go Deeper — Are you struggling with trusting God with a difficult or painful circumstance? We do not have to wonder if he is willing to be here with us in any pain. “Therefore” connects 5:5 with 5:6 & 7. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Peter here gives us four strategies for growing solid through suffering: To grow solid through suffering, humble yourself before God, resist the devil, trust the Lord, and stand firm in God’s grace with the saints. What the Bible says about trusting God in trials “Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. Even when the dearest temporal prayer requests are not answered affirmatively, he assures us that he is true and never the source of darkness; he is pure and never evil. What we view as good often equates to pain-free and lack of suffering. Because we live in a broken world, we know that suffering is a guarantee. I was reading through the book of Job this weekend and was very convicted by … Our confidence before God in suffering goes beyond our felt-needs to spiritual needs. Now, distressed believer, why has God given these reasons for confidence? Trust in the midst of trial is a result of a Spirit filled life.” – Andy Stumbo. CBN.com-“Even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.” – I Peter 3:14a. Job expressed deep anguish in the midst of incredible grief and suffering. It means that by trusting we have peace, even if the worst case scenario happens. The men and women of the Bible understood this. God sovereignly intervened in my sister’s life this year to rescue her body from cancer—an obvious, even miraculous, grace. What other truths from God’s Word can you trust in suffering? I am reminded that it is real, such that this life is to be lived in view of my promised, impending future. Our God is true, as falsehood only comes through denying him (2:22). Beginning talking to God about that struggle as honestly and openly as Job did, knowing that trust in God is built through dialogue with God. We have a song to sing. So, how do we do that? A waiting through the suffering. Suffering did not change how he lived or what he believed, but it did cause him to know God more deeply than he ever had before. Have confidence. For more information about subscriptions, click here. Yet, there is confidence in prayer before God. February 5th, 2019 / Karen Woodard “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before Him.” ... Beginning talking to God about that struggle as honestly and openly as Job did, knowing that trust in God is built through dialogue with God. While we can still maintain our faith because of our unchanging God, it is still important to exercise wisdom instead of becoming paralyzed by worry. For he promises to attend to our prayer requests for faith  that shines in the present. We ask for gender and age to assign you the appropriate mentor. God knows you need somewhere to go … He sent Jesus to suffer and die. Lamentations 3:21-23 says, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have … Article Images Copyright ©, How to Start 2021 Strong in the Midst of Chaos. One prayer request—for my sister’s health—was answered affirmatively; another—for my daughter’s—was not. When we ask to know that our belief is true and that our hope is real, he hears us. Subscribe to daily devotional emails! But our spiritual needs are his present agenda, and meeting them is his will. He is light in whom there is no darkness (1:5). God knows we’re prone to grasp for certainty in all the wrong places, and that could be why he litters the Bible with reminders not to fear or be anxious. "I couldn't … We who believe in him surpass the world with a faith that goes beyond it; we overcome the world (5:4). While we look forward to the joyful times, our suffering has the potential to draw us closer to the Lord … if we choose to steward that season well. Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. Affirm God’s Sovereignty over Our Suffering. Scripture teaches us that in our sovereign God’s loving hands, no suffering we face is ever purposeless, no matter how it seems at the moment. How many times does God have a purpose in events that seem senseless when they happen? The darkness we experience in this world is passing away (2:8). In him, our spiritual needs are met in full, and we see that our … Let’s join with Job. In the crowd was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for 12 years. The Bible is clear that we go through seasons in life, and one of the seasons that God talks about again and again is the season of waiting. Lianna Davis (@liannadavis) is wed to Tyler and mom to two girls, one who lives in heaven and one who lives on earth. In Christ, our spiritual needs are met in full and our true hope transforms us. I don’t presume to … It is in those times that through our faith we trust that God must have a plan, that there must be a greater purpose to our suffering. A family and friend reunited. “Trusting in God in the midst of trial does not mean everything will work out. He loves us and “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Our confidence before God in suffering goes beyond our felt-needs to spiritual needs. 1 Peter 5:10. When we ask that the reality of being fully alive in him might overwhelm us so that we can live to the praise of his glory when in pain, he hears us. The doctor remarked, “This is one of the good stories.”. Every brother and sister will encounter trials, like illness, persecution and suffering, natural and manmade disasters. We have passed out of death into life; this transaction is already complete (3:14). Trusting God in Suffering It was a few weeks after the accident and our pastor came to our home to spend some time with us. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. People from all over the region rushed to him and pressed against him. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 1 John 5:14-15 is an answer to prayer in the miraculous grace given to my sister of circumstantial saving, because it leads me to praise God for the light of eternal salvation that already shines. He is Love. 10 Marriage Goals Every Couple Should Have for 2021, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2021, Crosswalk.com. A trusting Him through the suffering. Even in trials, he assures us that we will learn how to walk in purity and love—as we watch our hope create increasing purity within hearts that are set on him. Father God, help me to know what a wonderful God you are and to trust you no matter what happens in my life. Seek Truth in Scripture. 1. But God sees the good in going through discipline and trials. (1 John 5:14-15). Surgery was required. Job knew truths about God that allowed him to trust God and “maintain his ways” before him, just as he always had done. When we know that he hears us because we have made a practice of abiding with him (2:24) in his Word (1:1), he will give us what we ask. God used the suffering that sin brought into the world to pay sin’s price. Finally, suffering is a great way to point people to Jesus and carry out the Great Commission. But God sees our lives from a completely different perspective. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before Him.” - Job 13:15, I remember sitting in a seminary class with 6 or 7 other students and my prof, discussing the book of Job. He sees our lives from a perfect perspective. But no cancer was found. In him, our spiritual needs are met in full, and we see that our true hope is what transforms us. Confidence can truly be found in our hope, according to 1 John. Personal implication number one. Suffering doesn't mean God has turned against us. He did not send his Son only to be unwilling afterward to make our hearts enthralled with him in a way that surpasses our circumstances with undeniable hope. Anna wakes up at 4:30 a.m. on those days to drive him to those sessions. Our true and legitimate earthly needs—even those dearly felt and desired—are not always his will to meet. Through Jesus’ suffering, He absorbed God’s wrath against sin. The true light is already shining (2:8). He laid down his life for us, demonstrating what love is (3:16). And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. These verses are also an answer to prayer in my life amidst the storm of grief that has came and the longing that remains. God sent his Son so that we might have life forever (4:9). Trust means looking beyond the present suffering in this earthly life to see what lies ahead. Perspective During Suffering. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. What Does it Look Like to 'Do Justice, Love Mercy, and walk Humbly' Today? We don’t need to have all the answers. Trusting in the wait. It is a mystery to the world how God would show forth his Glory on a cross. I asked the question, “Can we really trust a God like this, someone who allows a person like Job to suffer incredibly?” Human nature would say to forget about a God who would agree to inflicting pain and then abandon a man like Job when he needed God the most. Tag: trusting in God through suffering. Trusting God’s Definition of Good. In this, we overcome this world and, together in this purity of heart for him, our joy is complete (1:4). Would you like to talk about anything in particular? (1 John 5:14-15). Scripture, or the Bible, is God’s Word. We can be assured that he is greater than our hearts—greater than us—for he knows everything (3:20). While you’re waiting, God is working. The book of Job is my favorite, not because it is about suffering, but because it is about knowing God in a deeper way to the point that I can trust Him and say with Job, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though worms destroy my body, yet in my flesh shall I see God…” (Job 19:25-26). Woman healed by Jesus: trusting God is taking risks despite the pain. Ralph is a double amputee and stroke survivor who needs dialysis three days a week. In Mark 5, we find a scene that is prevalent throughout the gospels: a large crowd has gathered around Jesus. Do you want to honor him even though the way ahead seems only uncertain? He is our faithful God! Trust Him. Sufferer, you know this well. In our confidence, we do not shrink back from him, but are made ready for him to appear because in all circumstances, we can be made pure by a confident hope. It was precancerous. When these situations befall us, they are tests of our faith and obedience toward God. Do you want to remain confident in him? He will answer the prayer that we will walk in his light both now (3:2) and forever (2:27). God will walk through this with us. His resources will not only get you through, but you will truly grow to experience him as the source of overflowing hope "by the power of the Holy Spirit." But he didn’t. And here is a confession, so often I cry out to God in despair because I want Him to fix things! Trusting God in Suffering. You don’t need to worry. The world itself is passing away (2:17). 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