Are You Suffering?

But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity. [Job 36.15]

On this day in 2020, I wrote the article Rescue Is A Key Word. There is little I would add today to that article except to say I believe it more today than I did when I wrote it.

Notwithstanding, there remain many ideas floating around about suffering. Namely, there are those who embrace suffering as if it indicates they have "arrived" spiritually, and those who reject any notion that suffering has any spiritual value at all.

Unless suffering is seen as a means to an end, it will be difficult to understand.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? [Hebrews 12.5-9]

To think we have "arrived" because we suffer is wrong. Suffering, again, is a means to an end. It is temporary discipline that calls us to change - to repentance. But, to think we have "arrived" when we are repentant is equally as wrong. We have only "arrived" when we are restored.

However, to think we have "arrived" because we don't suffer is wrong too. Because no one is perfect ("...all have sinned,") and God's enduring desire is to redeem us, it is a bad sign if there is no suffering. Hebrews says a person who is not disciplined is illegitimate. The King James Version calls that person a "bastard."

How then does Jesus factor into the suffering equation?

It must be understood by those who categorically reject suffering that Hebrews 12 is part of the New Testament. But New Testament Jesus (Who suffered for us) must also be factored in by those who embrace suffering.

Here is where Christ (the mediator Job longed for) factors in to the suffering question. Jesus suffered leading the way for all who are His to suffer also if they are indeed "in Him." Jesus was not in any way illusive about our cross (our place of suffering and shame):

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. [Luke 9.23]

But! Taking up our cross is not the end either. If we are "in Christ" then our cross segues right into "resurrection" (restoration) just as it did for Jesus! The fact that Jesus prescribed taking up our cross daily is evidence that it is a process. It is a repetitive process of discipline that indicates we are not illegitimate, but children of God!

If our suffering leads us anywhere but to the cross (to Jesus, in repentance and faith), then there is no hope of resurrection (restoration). To avoid suffering is to avoid Jesus. However, to suffer without taking it to the cross (Jesus) AND without being resurrected (restored) is also hopelessly without effect.

Imagine suffering is a document printer. Imagine also that our lives are the paper to be printed upon. The process of printing (winding through the machine having ink injected or burned upon it) changes the blank paper into something with meaning (it leaves a mark). To be stuck in the printer is not the goal but instead an unwanted paper jam. To avoid the printer however is to be unchanged. The goal of passing through the printer is the mark upon the paper. As long as we are imagining, we should imagine what the desired mark upon the paper is... It is "JESUS."

Is God getting your attention through the process of suffering? That means He wants to see JESUS on you - He wants the mark of His child upon you. Don't get stuck in the process, but don't avoid it either. Repent - be changed - be restored - let the blank meaningless paper of your life be imprinted with JESUS!

Are you free from suffering? BEWARE! No legitimate child of God can or should avoid the process of suffering! It might be well-advised to ask God to get your attention! We ALL need the process of suffering (because all have sinned) so that we might be changed - restored! Remember, suffering is not the goal, but without it (think of Jesus on the Cross), the goal is unattainable.

Any teaching or explanation of suffering that fails to recognize Job's overwhelming completed process of restoration after he repented is unbiblical and dangerously wrong. Job was materially and physically restored when he finally and genuinely repented. God and His Word and His Son have all spoken to this end. Any presentation short of this is dead manmade religion.

Father, help us to "get it right" about suffering in our lives. Help us to welcome suffering for a short stay to accomplish its purpose but not to ask it to "move in." May we know and fully understand the truth that suffering gets our attention so that we might repent and be rescued - fully restored - as a testimony that we are Yours. So be it.