No time? No life?

It doesn't have to be that way. Christian
Stewardship Ministries can help!

Do you believe God has a plan for your life--a plan that contains every little detail? I do. In fact, my entire ministry is based on that premise.

Now I have a harder question. Does God's plan, God's perfect plan, include suffering? If it does, why?

We know that Jesus suffered terribly--not only in death, but during his life. He suffered rejection, ridicule, anger resentment, disloyalty and many other forms of pain. Yet, in spite of persecution, the Bible tells us that He was joyful. What do the scriptures say of our suffering?

I Peter 4:1 reminds us that we follow in Christ's footsteps: "Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin."

In I Peter 4:12-17 we find, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"

Reasons for Suffering

These scriptures clearly indicate that God has a plan for our lives which includes suffering. But if Christians are not exempt from suffering, what is God's purpose in it?

There are at least three reasons that God gives for our suffering: 1) to demonstrate to ourselves that we are done with sin by choosing to suffer rather than sin; 2) to show others that we belong to Christ; and 3) to grow stronger in our faith.

It is possible to rejoice in the midst of suffering. Paul sat in a cold, dark prison cell near the end of his life, knowing that he was going to die, and wrote to his friends, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice," (Philippians 4:4). God alone can enable us to rise above the pain, to rejoice in the midst of it.

Suffering with a Purpose

That is the distinction between our suffering and that of unbelievers. God gives us the opportunity to suffer for a higher purpose. We can rejoice in that higher purpose when we have the assurance that the pain we are experiencing is the result of our obedience to God in some area of our life. Then we can know that the suffering we endure is for His sake.

We seldom suffer for being Christians in the United States. There are two reasons for this. One, our culture is nominally Christian--it is legally and socially acceptable to be a Christian here. And two, most of us are such lukewarm Christians that we never speak out for our faith in any way that could lead to suffering.

When I was a very young Christian, I had a friend who crashed his car while driving drunk. My friend never regained consciousness, but lingered for six long months before he died.

His wife, a Christian, urged the pastor to speak the truth at his funeral to discourage others from drinking and driving. The pastor explained that this man, a prominent attorney, had been an alcoholic and that his drinking was responsible for his death. Until that time his intoxication had been carefully concealed--even by the police.

The pastor then invited those at the funeral to share memories of this man. As others addressed the hundreds gathered for the service, I began to tremble. I knew that God wanted me to speak. But I wanted to refrain because I knew what I must say would instantly discredit me in the eyes of many present. Yet to remain seated would constitute gross disobedience.

I found myself standing and saying that I, too, was an alcoholic. I testified that God had healed me of alcoholism a few months before and that He had the power to heal others of the same disease.

Talk about suffering! That was fifteen years ago, and I remember it as if it were yesterday. With that testimony I was labeled forever by the legal community as a Christian. People I considered friends began to cross the street to avoid me.

At the same time I knew I had been obedient. I was able to rejoice in my suffering. And you know what? There were other people at that funeral whose esteem I valued, some I did not even know, who began crossing streets to congratulate me on my courage.

Ever since then I have been able to boldly proclaim Christ. There was nothing left to lose!

Suffering with Joy

Our suffering for the cause of Christ may be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. But whatever form it takes, we can choose to suffer joyfully or joylessly. The difference is whether we are obeying God or not.

I am writing a book on time management and personal organization. God made clear to me a long time ago that He wanted me to write this book. But a lot of things had to fall in place, including money and experience, before I could write it.

Slowly, surely these things came to pass, and it was time to write the book, and I knew it. But the book was not getting written. I was procrastinating! The truth is I did not know how to write the book. So my board of directors gave me a choice: Write the book by a certain date or close the ministry. No more seminars, no more counseling, no more excuses!

I cannot begin to describe the pain that followed that mandate. I was suffering mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I could not sleep. I was depressed. I was in the doldrums for almost two weeks before I could suffer joyfully.

An Attitude of Obedience

Amid my pain I began to feel anticipation. Why? I had adopted an attitude of obedience. I still did not know how to write the book. But I did know how to trust God to write the book. So each day I do what He shows me to do, and I write what He inspires me to write. I have moved from joyless suffering through joyful suffering to enthusiasm for getting the job done!

Drawing Near to God

Nothing brings us close to God's heart like suffering. I learned that firsthand several years ago. At that time CSM's financial situation deteriorated to the point where we nearly dissolved the ministry.

We had cut every possible corner--letting staff go and halting publication of the newsletter. The Board of Directors agreed that we would not borrow money. Further, if all expenses including my salary could not be paid at the end of any month, we would take that as God's direction to close the ministry.

I had no idea what I would do if the ministry folded. After five years of full time ministry, there was nothing else I wanted to do. But I decided that my attitude must be "not my will but yours be done."

This decision brought me to trust in God in a deeper way. I was no longer "hanging on." Instead I was beginning to anticipate what God was going to do. I began to get excited about the future, whatever it was. I applied myself to the day's tasks and did not try to come up with answers I did not have. I can honestly say I felt joy instead of suffering.

Just enough money came in to make payroll and pay expenses. We began to take ads to fund the newsletter. Then we got new, less expensive office space. Slowly but surely the severe crunch was behind us, and I had grown stronger, wiser and closer to God.

I believe that as we learn obedience to God, He will teach us to suffer joyfully, and, in fact, how to abide without suffering even in situations which have all the trappings of pain.
---

NOTE:  All articles © copyright 1997-2007 by Christian Stewardship Ministries. Any portion of the Principles in Practice articles may be downloaded, quoted or reproduced without further permission, provided excerpts are in context, by adding the following credit line: "Reprinted from Christian Stewardship Ministries' Principles in Practice, Fairfax, Virginia," and furnishing a copy to: CSM, 10523 Main Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Phone: (703) 591-5000.