“WE AFFIRM that suffering of various forms is a normal part of life in this fallen world. We also affirm that God positively ordains suffering for His people for His own good, loving, and wise purposes. We affirm that suffering should not be thought of as a strange thing by Christians. Nevertheless, we affirm that part of the Christian hope is the eradication of suffering in the age of glory. We affirm that, while Christians are to patiently endure and even rejoice in their suffering, they are not to seek it out or relish it.“
“WE DENY that suffering necessarily comes upon us as a result of our weaknesses of faith. We deny that suffering happens against God’s will for our lives. We also deny that the appearance of suffering in our lives requires special deliverances that entail financial gifts to ‘men of God’, positive declarations, or prophetic proclamations.“
It is TRUE that because of the fall of Mankind and the corruption of creation through Adam’s sin, suffering is inevitable in this world. To live in a fallen world is to face pain, sorrow, and loss. Ecclesiastes 3 tells us how there is a time for everything, both joy and sorrow, and God ordains all of those seasons. This is the case for all human beings; therefore, it is an illusion to imagine a life free from suffering.
It is also TRUE that suffering is not uncommon for the Christian; moreover, it is something to be expected. Peter tells us not to be surprised or think it a strange thing when fiery trials come (1 Pet. 4:12). Paul repeatedly speaks of rejoicing in present suffering in view of the glory to come (Rom. 5:3-5; 8:17-18; Col. 1:24, etc). Furthermore, he tells Timothy plainly that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). James as well exhorts us to “count it all joy when (not if) you go through various trials” (Jas. 1:2). And Jesus Himself declared, “In this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33).
It is likewise TRUE that suffering is not only commonplace for the Christian, but also ordained by God for His own good and wise purposes. Remember the story of Job in the Bible. We see God positively allowing him to go through suffering in the hands of the devil (Job 1:12; 2:6). Paul says to the Philippians that they have been given the honour to believe in Christ and suffer for His sake (Phil. 1:29). He also tells the Thessalonians not to be moved by their sufferings as they were destined for them (1 Thess. 3:3-4). In the famous story where Paul was stoned to near death at Lystra and then afterwards rose to continue preaching, he went about encouraging the newly planted churches with this message: “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
Therefore, it is FALSE to imagine Christianity as an immunization against suffering. Christ does not offer us freedom from suffering in this world; instead, he promises peace in Him through it (John 16:33). The repeated instruction in the New Testament is to rejoice in suffering and endure it well. Now, does this mean that we ought to love suffering and seek out trouble? Not at all. Rejoicing in suffering does not mean enjoying it. It means enjoying Christ in the midst of it. It means treasuring Jesus as our ultimate joy rather than treating relief from suffering as our highest good. It means eagerly awaiting Christ’s return when He will bring an end to all pain at the resurrection.
And so, dear Christian, do not be deceived into thinking you are exempt from suffering in this life. As surely as the sun rises in the east, trials will come. Yet take heart! These are not meaningless. God has ordained them so that, through them, we might be shaped more and more into the likeness of Christ (Rom. 5:3–5; Phil. 3:10; Jas. 1:2–4; 1 Pet. 5:10). In our weakness, His strength is displayed, and through our endurance, the world sees that it is truly God who sustains our lives (2 Cor. 4:7–12). Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice (Phil. 4:4). For the day is coming when every tear will be wiped away, when pain and sorrow will be no more, and when you will see and enjoy Christ without the dim lens of suffering.
