Suffering … we don’t like to think about the possibility that we might suffer. Yet, tests, trials, tragedies, suffering, and persecutions come to us all. We will probably never be completely prepared for tragedies and intense suffering. Those things often knock the wind out of us at least for a while. But is it possible to have the kind of spiritual foundation that will keep us from being completely knocked down by suffering? If so, what can we do to prepare?

Are You Prepared for Suffering?

The Bible is “full disclosure.” There is no bait and switch with God. And when it comes to the tests, trials, tragedies, and other kinds of suffering that we all experience that is especially true.

Jesus Himself told us:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16.33).

The Apostle Peter wrote this:

¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy (1 Pet. 4.12-13).

So, is it possible to be prepared for suffering? I believe it is. But in order to do so, we must know and understand some things.

Not without Struggle

First, as I said in the introduction, it’s not that we will be impervious to trials or that there won’t be struggles and temptations. In fact, it’s often in the struggles that God does His greatest work in our hearts and lives. So, what are some of the things we need to know?

Limits on Suffering

We need to know that God promises to set limits on our trials. He will either limit their intensity or duration or He will increase our ability to handle them (1 Cor. 10.13).

We need to know that God can and will use even the worst trials for our good (Rom. 8.28-29). But the good He brings is not always what we see as good. Romans 8.29 explains that the ultimate good is that trials help us become more like Christ.

James 1.2-3 tells us that we can “count it all joy when [we] fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of [our] faith produces patience” or endurance. And verse 4 says that if we do, we will be “perfect and complete,” speaking of spiritual maturity.

And James 1 goes on the say that if we ask in faith, God will give us the wisdom we need in the midst of our trials (v.5-6).

Suffering Turns Our Hearts to God

We need to know that suffering turns our hearts to God in a greater way.

In Psalm 119, the psalmist said:

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word (v.67).

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes (v.71).

He went on to say that it was in His faithfulness that God had afflicted him (Ps. 119.75).

Suffering Removes Self-Reliance

Suffering reminds us that self-sufficiency is really an illusion. In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul said:

⁸ For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

Suffering helps us grow in our reliance on and trust in God.

Suffering, Pride & Humility 

When we go through suffering, it helps remove pride and grows us in humility. 2 Corinthians 12:

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸ Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Comforting Others

When we respond well to suffering, it can point others to Christ (1 Peter 3.13-17). And just as God comforts us in our trials, we can encourage and help others. 2 Corinthians 1.3-5:

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

Never Forsaken

Finally, we need to know and remember that God will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13.5). And for those of us who belong to Christ, who have believed the gospel and been born-again, God will one day wipe away every tear and remove all sorrow (Rev. 21.1-4).

Get Prepared for Suffering

The last time my husband taught on suffering in a home fellowship, someone said something to the order of, “Oh no! God sent you here to prepare someone. Now I’m wondering, is it me?”

The truth is that’s how most of us are tempted to think. And it’s the reason we just don’t think about these things. But if God Himself talks about tribulation, trials, persecution, and suffering, maybe we should, too.

So, how do we get prepared?

Learn the Scripture

Jerry Bridges in his book The Pursuit of Holiness says this about memorizing Scripture, “The Holy Spirit wrote the Scriptures; we learn the Scriptures; the Holy Spirit brings to our mind what we learn; we apply what He brings to mind.”

And we can’t wait until we are in the midst of a trial to do that.

If you would like to read a little more about his explanation and see a simple diagram from his book you can click here.

Hearing & Doing

Look at the last part of Jerry Bridges’ statement, “we apply what He brings to mind.” Jesus ended his teaching in the “Sermon on the Mount” with this in Matthew 7:

²⁴ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

The rain, floods, and wind are the tests and trials of life. Notice they came to both men. What caused one man’s house to be built on the rock? If you read verse 24 again, it says, “whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them …” The only way we can build our house on the rock is by hearing and doing. James 1.22-25 and Hebrews 5.12-14 both tell us much the same thing.

Trust in the Lord

Ultimately, we must trust in the Lord and in His sovereign work in our lives (Prov. 3.4-5). And we shouldn’t wait for the big things to come along before we decide to do so. We may get there by waiting until then but it will probably be a much longer, harder battle.

Instead, if we develop the practice of trusting Him and choosing to respond His way in everyday things, it will become our habitual way of responding (Eph. 4.22-24). It will also allow us to avoid many of the sinful responses that end up making our suffering worse (Heb. 5.12-14; Gal. 6.7-10).

So, are you ready for suffering? If not, what do you need to do to get better prepared?

For Further Study:

“Could Sin Be Complicating My Suffering?”

“Why We Can Rejoice in Suffering”

“Running to God When You Want to Run Away”

Blessings,
Donna

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