Suffering – is it God’s will for the Christian?

I object to someone whose message is ‘suffering for Jesus’, because their emphasis is certainly in the wrong place.  Remember, all of you, that Jesus came to give us Abundant Life!  Which includes blessing, prosperity, healing and security.  Nevertheless, being a Christian isn’t about standing on a mountain top all our lives and shouting, “I’m blessed, I’m blessed, I’m blessed!” either.  Read thoughtfully what I have written to you.

In thinking this through, and searching the Scriptures, here is what I have found.  I give it to you all, because I love you and I am still your teacher!  Use it as you see fit, but it is for you and your children…

Before I really get into this, remember that suffering in Middle English carries the definition of ‘allowing’ or ‘tolerating’ as well as being subjected to or experiencing something bad or unpleasant (He has suffered since his imprisonment), being affected by an illness or ailment (He suffers from insomnia), becoming worse in quality or condition (The book suffers from misuse).   So we could rephrase the question: What is a Christian to suffer and what is he to suffer not?

If you want to see God’s will in action, without man’s interference, you have but to look at the recounting of the creation of the world.  Suffering was not included with the blessing which God spoke over man and woman when He made them.  Nor was it part of the creation which God called ‘good’ at the end of the sixth day.

So suffering came about later, as a result of man’s disobedience to God’s commands.  The woman would give birth with toil and the ground would only yield with toil.  Man’s assignment was to subdue the earth, but now it would be hard work, it would cost him.  He was excluded from the beautiful place, the garden made for his dwelling, and from the source of his life.  God walked in the garden, but man could not walk there any longer.  He could no longer walk with God.  The principle of rebellion and anarchy had been let loose upon man and his descendants.  Suffering began.  Life without God is suffering.