Learning Through Suffering

Wow, it’s been a week. It always does seem like coming back from vacation kind of kicks you in the gut, leaving your breathless. I sometimes wonder if the vacation was worth it. Believe me, though, the vacation we had? Well worth it!

I learned a valuable life lesson this week, and I’m currently praying that God will not let me forget it, that He’ll guide me to grow from it, and help me to move on. Friendships were damaged, hearts were broken, tears were shed. It was awful.

These last few days, I’ve found myself really thinking about the entire situation, and how I can learn from it. Wouldn’t you know my daily devotional in my inbox this morning was on learning from suffering?

Thanks, God!

It’s so good, I wanted to share it. While I wouldn’t ever wish suffering on anyone, it’s a fact of life, and as Hebrews 12 tells us, “the Lord disciplines those he loves”.

Difficult Lessons Learned Through Suffering from the messages of Adrian Rogers

BIBLE MEDITATION:Hebrews 11:21 - "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff."

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Jacob became a wounded worshipper because God did not withhold the rod of correction. The wounded in life are those who have learned difficult lessons through suffering. Do not resist the Shepherd’s rod of correction. Is the wounding painful? Indeed. Does it seem that you will not be able to bear it? Most certainly. Then, why would He subject you to such pain? Because you have a Father who loves you so much that He is willing to hurt you to heal you. What you need to focus on is not your pain, but your Savior. God didn’t save you to take you to heaven. That’s a fringe benefit. God saved you to make you holy – as He is holy.

ACTION POINT:Read Hebrews 12:1-13. What application can you make from this passage for your life today?

Hebrews 12:1 - 13 says "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."

I’m also reminded of this song that was popular two years ago. I cried every time I heard it that summer; it reminded me of my Aunt Nancy, who you’ll hear more about next week.

“Bring the Rain" ~ Mercy Me

I can count a million times

People asking me how I

Can praise You with all that I've gone through

The question just amazes me

Can circumstances possibly

Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed

Long before these rainy days

It's never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you, oh Lord

My only shelter from the storm

But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there'll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise You

Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of

The dark clouds that may loom above

Because You are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me

By suffering Your destiny

So tell me what's a little rain

So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there'll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise You

Jesus, bring the rain

Holy, holy, holyHoly, holy, holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Is the Lord God Almighty

And so it is, during these difficult times, that we must cling to our Father, remembering that He loves us and wants to refine us to be more like Him. In which case I say, Jesus bring the rain.