Good morning, dear friends! I pray that God’s wisdom that you receive through „Daily Word for Spiritual Edification” lifts you up higher and higher, in Jesus’ name!We are still talking about
the advantages that are hidden in pain and sufferings. We have discussed four of them, and they are as follows:
- Problems draw our attention like nothing else.
- Problems teach us to trust God.
- Problems try and purify our faith.
- Problems shape our character.
Today we will talk about two more advantages.
Problems prepare us for eternity.The destination that God has for every believer is spending eternity with Him. God does not want us to think that this world is our home. Apostle Peter says that we are strangers and pilgrims in this world.
«Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul» (1 Peter, 2:11).
God desires for us to always look beyond pain and problems and to yearn for the eternal glory that will be revealed at the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our love and devotion to God grows faster and stronger through sufferings. In order to be glorified with God, the Bible says we have to suffer with Him. If today we take part in His sufferings, then we will be able to rejoice and celebrate His coming.
«..but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you…» (1 Peter, 4:13-14а).
God knows how to use your pain, your problems and circumstances to prepare you for eternal glory. God sees way further than we do. We only see pain and sufferings, but God sees the eternal glory that awaits us.
«..and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together» (Romans, 8:17).
Character is formed not by sitting in auditoriums, but by going through problems. Character is shaped through hardships.
Problems give us a chance to obtain experience for the ministry to other people.«Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God» (2 Corinthians, 1: 3-4).
Your wounds and your pain that you have experienced can turn into a medicine and healing aid for the one who has just stepped into those things. They help us not only to be compassionate, but also to become experienced ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says that Jesus Himself went through trials and temptations so that He could be able to help those that are tempted.
«For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted» (Hebrews, 2: 18).
We also know that the stripes of Jesus have become today the basis of our healing. What would have happen to us today if He had refused to take the beating for our sins and to take upon Himself our weaknesses and diseases? There would be no hope for our healing.
«…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.» (1 Peter, 2: 24)
So we cannot stop problems from coming into our lives, but we are able to prevent them from having victory over us, as we go through them with dignity, because we understand the potential advantages of the problems and pains in our life!May the Lord strengthen you in the times when you have a serious crisis or problems in your life. May God help you go through your problems with dignity, in Jesus’ name!Blessings to you!Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
