Romans 5:3-5
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit
Who has been given to us.
Suffering I thought about as a very young 16-year-old first time believer. I thought in the teenage group that patience sounded like a fine way to have a prayer request and not sound like you have given something away to be talked about during High School lunch. And as the group got towards me, I had the lightning idea that if you pray for patience, God will Answer that prayer with Profound Opportunities for PATIENCE. So, my first note to self in Christian Belief was NEVER Pray for Patience. And I explained this to our High School and College friend who became an Anglican Priest. In College. Of Course, he wanted to be a physical therapist.
However, the Bible says Suffering is an opportunity to Rejoice.
And? This one is more easily understood.
Romans 8
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Now this is more like what I hope for Heaven on earth. Expectation of Glory.
However, this explains something that is a huge video take out from "The Chosen" about the Perfect and Glorious Reign of the long awaited Messiah bringing more Heaven on earth. The video when Jesus says, bones will still break and Hearts will break on this earth.
Romans 8
11 If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of Adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Future Glory
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
All well and Good
when
Suffering is a Chance to Rejoice
And when is that? Let's be as real as St David, King of Israel, who claimed Jerusalem for the first time including the Exodus!
When Suffering as Rejoicing is mentioned to me, I feel like this:
God Knows this of me. Suffering, is ok and finished suffering, when you score and see new and maturing Belief grown in the Holy Spirit, Who is the Light of ALL mankind. Suffering when finished, and you dance like Hugh Grant in 10 Downing Street because Angels sang over the choice to talk about or live the High Road of God in Mercy. Or being loquacious. Then, we have lived the adventure of Psalm 139.
Adventure
in
the Holy Spirit
Psalm 139
Before a Word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and You lay Your Hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I go up to the Heavens, You are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there Your Hand will guide me,
Your Right Hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to You;
the night will shine
like the day,
for darkness
is as Light
to You.
For those of us who really do not long to discuss or contemplate Suffering as Rejoicing; we have to look to understand because we Know God is not making light of any heartbreaking situation. God is Always Near to those with a Breaking Heart.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
for darkness is as light to you.
The Lord will never leave nor forsake you.
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on Him,
because
He cares for you.
Suffering in Rejoicing is more like looking back on the good God interweaves in life from the hardship. Suffering is something we bravely face knowing faith is the unseen journey towards God.
Jesus is
the
Exact Nature of God
Ecclesiastes 3
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
Suffering and Rejoicing is taking all the trouble in with a strong steadfastness,
that this trouble will pass by like the first Passover. The Blood of Jesus Christ drives the trouble away.
Then we Rejoice in the Power of God and His Triumphant Word.
When we hear something like Suffering therefore Rejoice, it is not necessarily our favorite topic, yet in time we sort through the difficult to find the good. To see the working of God. God tells us we walk by faith. God has taken the worst and interweaving His Love to make the understanding of His Plan and His Love.
John 21
Thank you, Jesus our Lord Christ
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Matthew 28:20
“Lo, I am with you
always,
to the end of the age”
John 21
Thank you, Jesus our Lord Christ
Abba, Father,
So many times
we all think and sometimes
pray
for more Heaven on earth
and God's good will be done.
And we must be the Heaven
and we must be the Light
Dwell in me
Dwell in those I love
Dwell in those I pray for
To seek God first
Help us to see more Heaven on earth
Help us to be more Heaven on earth
And we will finish well
in Jesus Christ.
Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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