God in Our Suffering.

[farouk]

9 minutes ago, Hopefully said:

“Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat.
 

Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are having the same sufferings that you have.

 

Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭

 

“God has blessed you in ways that serve Christ. He allowed you to believe in Christ. But that is not all. He has also given you the honor of suffering for Christ. Both of these bring glory to Christ.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭

 

 

 

 

Great passages there, @Hopefully. Philippians especially seems to link the themes of suffering and joy in Christ.

[enoob57]

There exist two reasons children of God suffer: 
1. Our choice of sin and the curse it brings upon the whole world.
2. The hatred of satan and his toward the things of God.

[enoob57]

On 11/21/2024 at 3:34 AM, TheBlade said:

is what so ever you desire when you pray believe you receive it (FAITH) you shall have it

Your church sounds like health, wealth, prosperity gospel? If you suffer it is because of a lack of faith?

[Neighbor]

15 minutes ago, enoob57 said:

There exist two reasons children of God suffer: 
1. Our choice of sin and the curse it brings upon the whole world.
2. The hatred of satan and his toward the things of God.

..."For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;"... 

[enoob57]

2 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

..."For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;"... 

I cannot see how you are connecting this with suffering?

[Neighbor]

1 hour ago, enoob57 said:

I cannot see how you are connecting this with suffering?

Hi,

..."The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope  that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved."

[BornAgain490]

8 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Hi,

..."The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope  that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved."

Amen. Amen. 🙏 

[Sower]

On 11/21/2024 at 3:34 AM, TheBlade said:

Do you know how many promises GOD gave us in His word? Some say over 7000.

                   

I do not know how many Promises God gave us.
I do know they are ALL true. I trust them. I trust God.

I learned this during those early lean mean years.
It was during those lean mean years I could finally SEE the hand of God actually working in my life.
I learned the faithfulness of God our creator. Would not have learned if there was no struggles/tribulations.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose"        Romans 8, 28  KJV

"And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us]
causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God,
to those who are called according to His plan and purpose"     Romans 8, 28  Amplified

I allowed my son, whom I love,  to fall down and hurt himself that he would learn to walk.
I allowed him to be bitten by our dog for pulling it's ear that he learned about the consequences of his actions.
You reap what you sow.

I would not cause hurt or pain to my son unless he was being disciplined, and I love him.
"Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him"

"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

In the vine, every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it to make it even more fruitful. Jn 15

Spiritual pruning enhances spiritual growth by removing whatever inhibits spiritual growth.
The promise that God loves us is enough. He is faithful. I trust Him. (NOT my own understanding)

Thanks Blade, and God loves you brother (I promise:)

Addendum; God works in mysterious ways...

After posting this reply above, I checked my emails and found this. Just a coincidence, right!.....

THE WORD FOR YOU TODAY  Saturday November 23 “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.” Ps 105:19 NKJV

Stand on the promise God gave you When Joseph’s brothers stripped him of his coat of many colors which represented his father’s favor, what held him steady? The promise God gave him. When he was thrown into a pit and then sold into slavery, what held him steady? The promise God gave him. When the butler he befriended in prison failed to speak on his behalf to Pharaoh, what held him steady? The promise God gave him. “Joseph…was sold as a slave…He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him, the ruler of the people let him go free. He made him lord of his house” (vv. 17-21 NKJV). God’s Word will stand the test of time, but in order for it to come to pass, you must stand strong in faith during your times of testing. You will be tested by the attitudes and actions of your family. You will be tested by the unfaithfulness and betrayal of friends you trusted. You will be tested by living in circumstances of adversity and hardship that seem opposite to what God promised you. You see, God is more interested in your character than He is in your comfort. The New Living Translation says, “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character” (v. 19). Why test anything? To find out if it’s trustworthy. And when you prove trustworthy, you can stand on the promise, “It will certainly come to pass” (Hab 2:3 NET). So, stand on the promise God gave you.

 

 

 

[BornAgain490]

4 minutes ago, Sower said:

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose"        Romans 8, 28

Amen.  Love this verse.  Think of that ultimate good when all things work together: our eternal salvation. 

This verse edifies specifically the body of Christ, and at the same time implicitly warns those that are not in Christ. 

All things means all things (the best, the worst, including the worst of suffering, and everything in between), ALL THINGS work together for good to them that LOVE GOD, to them who are THE CALLED according to His purpose.  This applies only to Christians, those that are in Christ, who love God, who are the called. 

Praise blessing honor glory and power to the Father Son and Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen amen 🙏 

[AnOrangeCat]

My testimony is scattered across the forum in various places. Rather than duplicate it I'll just say that after years of abuse and suffering from a mental tic of sorts my suffering did a whole lot to bring me closer to God, and my faith in Him would be untested and diminished from its current state if that section of my life had gone down a softer path. It might sound comical to pray every time you get in the car with someone but that's something I did back in the day because the driver had dementia and insisted on being behind the wheel. She was so far gone as to drive literally in the middle of the road sometimes and have no conception that she was doing anything wrong.