The Blessings of Suffering

You would think that a newsletter dedicated to encouragement would say something like “the suffering is going to end,” wouldn’t you? How encouraging is it to tell someone who is suffering to just “grin and bear it”? Well, on the surface, not very! Still, there is encouragement when we realize that our heavenly Father has made provision for us to be able to endure and even thrive while suffering in this life (James 1:2, 3).

Yes, it is true that someday the suffering will end for those who are faithfully united with Christ. A day is coming in which God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). “There’ll be no sadness, all will be gladness” in heaven. However, we are not in heaven yet, are we? Many people are all too well acquainted with that fact; perhaps some of you. I take great comfort in knowing that God is with me until the end (Matthew 28:20); that He makes sure that I do not suffer more temptation than I am able to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). But there is one passage that speaks directly to how we should suffer and the blessings involved in suffering the right way, that I find especially encouraging.

Most of us are familiar with “The Beatitudes” (Matthew 5:3-12). We could spend weeks studying the depth of this passage of Scripture. There is much wisdom here concerning many aspects of everyday life, but let’s stay on the subject of how to suffer and the blessings involved. The first three beatitudes have to do with suffering more than those beatitudes that immediately follow. In verses 3-5 we read that there are blessings involved for those who voluntarily take on the qualities of poverty of spirit, mourning and gentleness (meekness). Perhaps you have heard it explained that the word “blessed” means “happy,” but let me assure you that it is not a happiness as the world understands happiness. The world thinks of happiness as an emotional response to, or determined by, circumstances. If someone knocks on my door and presents me with a “big ‘ole” check for $10,000,000.00, I am going to be happy because of those circumstances. Jesus uses a word in the beatitudes that describes a happiness in spite of circumstances. It is happiness on a much deeper level than the world generally thinks about. That is the only way to be happy in mourning.

“Poverty in spirit” is not depression. Depression is a humbling or “lowliness” caused by circumstances. Poverty of spirit is a voluntary humility or “emptying of self.” See Philippians 2:5-8. “Mourning” is not just sadness, but sadness on a level that requires action. It is the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10, 11). "Gentleness” (meekness) is a word worthy of a great deal of study. It involves humility to a great extent. It involves self-control. It is the quality of keeping your own wants and desires in check for the good of another. We sometimes call Moses the “father of the meek,” but not because he was a weakling (read Exodus 32:19, 20 if you think he was weak). Moses was more concerned with God and His Name than he was about anything to do with his own life.

So, what we find is that the first three steps on God’s ladder of success are downward, not upward. Interesting, isn’t it? But now, catch this point. God does not just leave us in the basement. James writes that if we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up (James 4:10). And the point is that only by God lifting us up can we get where we need to be.

When I teach a series of lessons on the beatitudes I make the point that when you talk about voluntary poverty of spirit (emptying oneself), it is a lot like making yourself a doormat. Well, you know what happens to a doormat, don’t you? It gets stepped on. And that hurts; sometimes a lot. The last beatitude addresses that one little problem.

I count Matthew 5:10-12 as one beatitude. You can count it as two or three if you want, but look at these three verses very carefully. When you make yourself a doormat, people will step on you. That won’t be fun, but there is a blessing here, too. There were (and are) people doing the right thing (righteousness) and suffering for it; being persecuted for it. And Jesus says they have access to that deep level of happiness that the world doesn’t understand. Why? Because theirs is the kingdom of heaven, that’s why! But Jesus continues. He says that sometimes the persecution is going to come in the form of insults and people falsely saying all kinds of evil against us because of Jesus; because of doing the right thing (righteousness). And here, too, is that deep happiness. Now He tells us how to approach this kind of suffering; what attitude to have. He says, “Rejoice and be glad…”

What??? I thought I was supposed to moan and groan, to gripe and complain! No, that’s the world’s response! Christians are supposed to “rejoice and be glad” and He gives a reason. Not only can we have that happiness that is deeper than any worldly happiness, but we can take comfort in the fact that we are in good company “…for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

I have to tell you that it is harder for me to endure it when people insult friends of mine than when they insult me. I don’t mean that insults do not hurt me, because they do. I do mean, though, that when you insult a friend of mine, you have stepped much further over the line (in my mind) than when you just insult me. Still, I must resist the temptation to lash out and realize (and make sure my friends who have been insulted realize) that there is a blessing for us. God is with us. We are in good company. You may have some difficult circumstances to deal with this week. There may be people who are going to insult you and say all kinds of evil against you on account of Jesus, but you hang in there! You may get stepped on by a lot of muddy feet (that is as insulting as I choose to get this morning toward those who persecute us), but don’t give up! God is with you and loves you more than you can know in this life and so do I.

Donnie Bates