Author: Pastor Rufus Ajiboye

In order for us to seize the potential advantages that are hidden in pain and sufferings, we must learn the true nature and essence of sufferings. Firstly, our present pains are temporary comparing to eternal torture that awaits every person who lives a life of compromise in pursuit of personal comfort. Secondly, our present pain is light comparing to the glory of God that awaits every person who endures pains with dignity. By going through the temporary sufferings, we gain eternal glory and joy. Temporary sufferings multiply our eternal glory if endured with the right attitude.

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.

Problems try and purify our faith.

Quite often the Bible compares sufferings with the furnace used for the purification of metal that burns up all the dross. “In this your greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter, 1:6-7).

Problems draw our attention faster than anything else.

Problems can become a spiritual “alarm clock” from God. This is what Job (36:15) points out: “He delivers the poor in their affliction, and opens their ears in oppression”.

In times of prosperity and abundance we hear God as whispering, but in times of pain and suffering we hear Him loud and clear. God has an ability to revive our attention towards His Word and His voice. That is why Solomon says that in times of abundance we should enjoy life, but in times of suffering we should think about our life.

Pain and problems – they are the things that God uses to spiritually discipline and develop us. We learn obedience through the things we suffer. «..though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered» (Hebrews, 5: 8).

Gold is purified in high temperatures. Sufferings are ‘high temperature’ that purifies us.

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers; Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”(Mt.4:18-19)

I would like you to pay attention to the word “SAW”, which has been mentioned here twice. Passing by, Jesus saw Matthew and two brothers – Peter and Andrew. Jesus had noticed them, somehow they attracted His attention, Jesus invited them to become a part of His team.

My dear friend, I would like you to think how you could use your times of special celebration, parties and other opportunities for bringing the gospel to your unsaved relatives, friends and acquaintances.

In 1 Corinthians 10:31 the bible reminds us that whatever we do, we must do it for the glory of the Lord:

“So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”

Let’s talk about another quality Jethro possessed: he did not pressure Moses to accept his advice. We can see in the Scripture, which I would like us to look at:

«If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace» (Exodus, 18:23).

We can see here that Jethro did not demand Moses to accept his advice, but gave him a chance to make a choice himself. The phrase “if you do this thing” means that even if Moses did not listen to Jethro, he would not be upset. So he knew he could not take it personally if Moses chooses a different way.

One of the ways we make ourselves qualified is to learn to listen to people, listen to their hearts and feelings; only then we can really help them.

Besides, we must be ready to show the problem from a different perspective. It is not satisfactory to point out person’s problem or his or her mistakes; we must be able to highlight how his or her present lifestyle or approach to life has caused the problem.

Today I would like us to look at another passage of Scripture.

Every one of us tries to help people by giving advice or recommendations. There are moments in life when we want to reveal certain truths to people so that they could make right choices. Every one of us needs counsel and guidance. It says in the Bible: «Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established» (Proverbs, 15:22).