We must first comprehend the war being waged for our souls before we can understand suffering. This war is spiritual; however, its effects are seen and felt in the flesh. We cannot win this war in the flesh without first winning it in the Spirit.
We begin this spiritual battle with a firm belief in God, Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." But we say we do believe in God. And God replies, Luke 6:46, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" So, we see that believing in Him will naturally produce the fruit of obedience, Matthew 7:21, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Why does our belief in God naturally produce good works? Because the way He created everything to work together for good requires everyone to do the work that will produce the good, 1 John 3:18, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
How do we do good works? It begins when we humble ourselves before our creator God, 1 Peter 5:6-10, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." We need to be humble to fully grasp the awe of God and what He has done. Once we have the correct understanding of how great God is, we can be patient enough to truly trust that He will be faithful; 2 Thessalonians 3:3, "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." and 1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Putting on the whole armor of God is an important step, Ephesians 6:11-12, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Suffering is the result of living in disobedience to God's created order. The suffering we face in this life will be both of the flesh and of the Spirit. Once we use God's armor, we can call on Him to provide a way to escape that spiritual suffering. Doubt and fear are thus dismissed, and our minds are calmed as we look toward the hope Jesus brought us, 1 Peter 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you," This hope makes this temporary suffering in the flesh bearable, knowing that an eternity of peace, love, and joy, awaits; Romans 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." This proper understanding of suffering changes our attitudes about both suffering and death. No one will escape the first death unless Jesus returns before that death. We do not need to fear it; it is the doorway to the next life. However, it is a doorway that requires a key, which is our belief, Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Some of the suffering in the flesh will be caused by others, and some of it will be self-inflicted. The more we align our thoughts and actions with God's will, the less self-inflected suffering we will experience, Galatians 6:7-8, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
However, not all suffering is self-inflicted. Since we know that sin produces suffering, some of our sufferings are caused by the choices of others; 1 Peter 2:19-21, "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 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. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" Jesus showed us how to deal with wrongful suffering, with patience and confidence. He is our example. 1 Peter 4:12, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:" for Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
We can rest in the hope that Jesus brought us, for nothing in this life is worth losing that eternal hope.
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