The Joy in Suffering
If there’s one theme that can be followed through the Bible, it’s suffering. Trials and hardship.
Jesus makes it clear that if the world hates us, it hated Him first. He suffered greatly - as did the apostles. The Early Church was heavily persecuted, scattered across nations and suffered at the hands of dark opposing forces. Frankly, there is so much to learn from the Early Church and how they chose to perservere and truly build up their faith, along with the way they lived and spread the Gospel.
While we do not face the same kind of persecution at this point in time in the American Church, there seems to often be a teaching that races through churches, speaking of ease and prosperity and shifting the importance of Christ into one’s own calling and destiny, with no mention of suffering and facing hardship, or learning to be strengthened against temptation. The problem is, suffering and facing trials are foundational aspects of our faith - without proper teaching, it’s easy to be weakened in trials instead of being strengthened and having a faith that has been refined by fire and proven genuine. (1 Peter 1:7)
If we live in our comfort and hide in our churches without being challenged, how can we face seasons of life with intense struggle? How can we trust the Lord without times of deep wrestling in our faith walk?
Walking through hardship and tests of faith are what often reveal aspects of ourselves that the Lord graciously seeks to transform in us, heal us, or strengthen parts of us. It’s not just a “maybe,” part of our faith - suffering is necessary. How can we learn the Lord’s strength if we never face a trial that steals our own? How can we understand that Christ is sufficient until there are dark nights of the soul where it feels as if we cannot breathe without Him?
What kind of faith do we truly have if it isn’t a faith that perseveres?
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4 NIV
The truth is, we will all go through times of suffering in life, but we don’t have to fear it or believe that it’s because God hates us. Hardship is a mark of God’s love for us as it disciplines and strengthens us for His good, so that we may share in His holiness. (Heb 12.) Suffering isn’t fun - it doesn’t feel good. It should always produce something in us if we choose to submit to the work of our Savior’s hands. Trials can truly be a space where we find a supernatural joy and a deepening of our faith and wisdom as we navigate the difficulties of life. Facing suffering is also where our character and integrity is truly built. It’s easy to rejoice in the mountain top, but the joy in the valley is one that runs deeper, flowing from the Source Himself.
There isn’t a singular way to suddenly become joyful - but the beginning of it always starts by abiding in Jesus. This can look like:
Dwelling on His goodness, choosing gratitude, and listening to His voice.
Asking Him to remind you of joy is a great starting point.
Renewing your mind and fixing your eyes on the truth by memorizing scripture can help you combat lies that may try to take root.
Be disciplined even in times of suffering and it will make you fruitful.
There is a way to continually choose to suffer well - a large part of doing so is in choosing joy and submitting yourself to the Lord over and over and releasing the moments you want to move in your own strength to lean on the Lord and trustworthy friends around you. The hope in suffering is that it WILL produce good fruit in you and it WILL draw you nearer to the Lord. Do not be afraid of what is revealed by suffering - be willing to go through the process.
For those of you that are suffering, I want to take a moment to speak directly to you: God has not forgotten you. This isn’t how it ends. This season isn’t all that there is. We serve a good God, who is kind and holy and just - and so faithful in hardship. He doesn’t expect you to ignore the pain that you are in nor pretend that the fire of refinement doesn’t hurt to walk through. But He has never left, never turned His face from you. Our God draws near to the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. The crushing isn’t forever. Take heart and know that this season is producing something in you as you submit and follow Him. Don’t give up. Don’t let the trial define your entire life or push you away from God - let it shine a light on what He wants to produce within you and strengthen your faith. The Lord loves you and He is with you. Suffering produces perseverance, which produces character, and character, hope. (Rom 5) Hope in Jesus will not put you to shame. One day, He will turn your mourning into dancing.
