Since then, we have:
- Gained knowledge and skills by learning from mistakes, sacrifices, and possibly physical pain.
- Enjoyed food and flowers that have endured the changing seasons and may have required pruning as they grew.
- Benefitted from materials where heat or pressure increased their usefulness.
So even nature teaches us that suffering can be the route to something greater – rather than a reason to give up. But the Bible presents suffering in a more encouraging light than merely as a form of positive stoicism. Suffering is under the supervising hand of the God who loves us infinitely, giving it an eternal dimension and purpose. Despite the pain, difficulty, and at times the inexplicability of suffering, it has the potential to deepen our faith in God, help our growth in Christlikeness, make us a blessing to others, and encourage us to live more expectantly about the future.
To help us overcome the setbacks of suffering we need to appreciate the value of sacrifice, and adopt a long-term view. In a materialistic, self-centred society that often expects instant gratification, this may not be popular. But there is no escaping the fact that the Lord sometimes calls us to give up short-term comfort for long-term benefit. Another important attitude is thankfulness for the things we can appreciate. Paul and Silas sang praises at midnight in the harsh conditions of prison (Acts 16), exemplifying what Paul would later teach: “give thanks in all circumstances” (1Thessalonians 5:18 ESV).
Some suffering is preventative: an opportunity to learn or a way to help prevent greater suffering in the future. Vaccinations, touching something hot, or falling over when learning to walk are obvious examples. Giving up a relationship that, in the long-term will be harmful, is a more complex example. Suffering that comes from the consequences of our mistakes, sins or folly can still be approached pragmatically if we learn lessons that will help prevent greater harm in the future.
Some suffering is for our development so that we may become more like the Lord Jesus. Hebrews 12:5-11 speaks about enduring suffering because training is in view. Good parents spend a lot of time and effort on the development of their children, not just on correcting their errors. So too, our heavenly Father brings us through experiences to develop within us more of the character of the divine family.
In addition to parenting, another picture the Bible gives us is pruning. A gardener does not cut down foliage to destroy the plant or simply to change the way it is growing – instead, it is normally with a view to increasing its strength and fruitfulness. Hence, we are told of the Lord’s actions: “every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John15:2 ESV).
Our suffering can be helpful to others. When we are willing to forgive, even when we have been hurt by what someone has done, our forgiveness can become a blessing to them (although the enjoyment of the blessing will be conditional on their repentance). We also recognise that there are occasions when we ourselves will need forgiveness! In 2 Corinthians 1:4 (ESV), we are reminded that God comforts us in our suffering so “that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”. Offering comfort, however, will need to be done sensitively. It is rarely helpful to compare our experiences with those of others or to assume we fully understand how they feel – yet the wisdom and learning of those who have passed through similar difficulties can be a real help.
Others may also benefit if we set a good example in how we react to suffering – when we show endurance and we allow the faithfulness of God to be seen, it may inspire others (Hebrews 12:1). Likewise, when viewed holistically, the persecution of believers has often led to blessing, resulting in the gospel spreading more widely (Philippians 1:12). I’m sure Paul never imagined the benefit that would come to millions of people as a result of him writing to the churches during his imprisonment and the record of those letters being preserved in Scripture for generations to follow.
Some suffering helps our understanding of what the Lord was willing to do for us. Whenever we experience rejection, false accusation, physical agony and a plethora of other sorrows, we gain a glimpse of what the Lord Jesus experienced. Then we can lift our hearts in gratitude to Him for choosing to endure those things so that we might escape them for eternity.
But plenty of suffering is neither self-inflicted nor an obvious learning opportunity. Indeed, it may appear highly unjust, and we may feel like the writer of the Psalm who observed, “the ungodly, who prosper in the world . . .[but] all the day long I have been plagued” (Psalm 73:12,14 KJV).
Unfair and apparently pointless suffering in our lives or in the lives of others can be a significant discouragement. In these situations, it is good to remember that, when Peter spoke of suffering being like passing through fire, he said it is “the trial of your faith” (1 Peter 1:7). God is not testing our ability to cope in our own strength or our ability to explain our situation by our own wisdom – He is giving us an opportunity to exhibit faith. When there is no other rationale, sometimes the only way to stop suffering irreversibly setting us back is to rest in the character of God. This is one reason why it is particularly important that we get to know His character (Philippians 3:8-10, Hebrews 11:11).
The apostle Paul was a tremendous theologian but after fourteen days in the darkness and waves of the Mediterranean storm, his statement was as simple as it was profound, “I believe God” (Acts 27:25). Job is often thought of as one of the most experienced of sufferers and he said: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”, (Job 13:15).
One day all injustice will be corrected and the purposes of God – many of which are so unclear here on earth – will be seen to be perfect and best: “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30); “my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans” (Isaiah 55:9 NET).
Anticipating the time when the hardships of earth will be forever gone (Revelation 21:4) prevents us from becoming too attached to this life. Peter speaks about suffering in each chapter of his first letter, including the fact that we may suffer unjustly, but he also speaks of being “a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed” (1 Peter 5:1 KJV) and of how God has called Christians “to His eternal glory” (1 Peter 5:10).
That will be the ultimate “successful setback” – when the sufferings (and other difficulties considered in this series) are permanently replaced with the wonderful eternity that lies ahead.
