"God is in Charge."

"God is in Charge."

“You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong and firm.  He is in control forever! Amen!”  [1 Pet.5:10-11,CEV]

Wish I could claim credit for the following, but I can’t. The origin is unknown; I adapted it long ago as “observations on the nature of suffering,” and it seems appropriate to share in light of recent events. Just remember what Peter says above: God is in charge.

1] Suffering is painful. It’s never easy. No matter what we know and how hard we apply Godly principles, it’s going to hurt.

2] Suffering makes us scratch our heads. It’s mystifying. Why now? Why me? What’s God doing? All we know is, it’s designed to build our trust in God.

3] Suffering is purposeful. In spite of 2], it’s not without meaning. The main purpose is to make us Christ-like in character.

4] Suffering proves/tests us. It’s what challenges our character/integrity and the object/quality of our faith.

5] Suffering is a process. It takes time, and the results God seeks require time and endurance.

6] Suffering acts as a purifier. It will raise the dross - our impurities - to the surface, for we won’t be perfect in this life.

7] Suffering provides opportunity. …For God’s glory, our growth, transformation, witness, ministry -- though not of our choosing.

8] Suffering requires our cooperation [to achieve God’s purpose]. We all want the product, character…but we don’t want the process, suffering. We can’t have one without the other.

9] Suffering is appointed. The Word says it will come; it’s no surprise the children of God are struggling as much or more than the children of the world.

10] Suffering is inevitable. It’s not a matter of “if” we’re going to have trials in life but how we will respond to them.

11] Suffering is a struggle.  It’s going to be a battle all the way. That’s why they’re called trials and testings.

Even when we understand the purposes/principles of suffering and know God’s promises in the Word, dealing with “life” is never easy because suffering hurts. Trials simply give us the opportunity to practice what the Spirit gives us the capacity to do: joyfully trust in God’s grace each day -- something we could not do in and of ourselves.

- Jack