Heart To Heart Suffering

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"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience." James 5:10.

Is suffering normal for the Christian?   "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you."

I John 3:13. "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but be- cause ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John 15:18-19.

Christians are subjects in the kingdom of Christ. The world is the kingdom of Satan. (Matt. 4:8-9.)   Christ and Satan have been "at war since the creation". For this reason, Christ's followers are not always accepted by those of Satan's kingdom. ...Christ also suffered..., leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." I Peter 2:21.

Yes, suffering is normal for a Christian.

Christ learned obedience through suffering. "Christ ... offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death,...yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Hebrews 5:7-9.

Christ was born sinless, yet He had to bring His flesh into submission to the Holy Spirit.   His body learned this obedience through the things He suffered. How much more shall we, who were born with the nature of Adam and the temperamental weaknesses of our parents and grandparents, need to endure suffering to subdue the flesh's dominion and strengthen the Spirit of Christ in us.

God made Jesus, "the captain of their [our] salvation perfect through sufferings." Hebrews 2: 10.   We must acknowledge that suffering is necessary for perfection.

Many positive character traits can be developed through a willing submission to suffering.   Faith, courage, stability, strength, humility, self-confidence and tolerance are just a few.   As heat purifies gold, so suffering can purify character. Can faith be teamed without suffering a need? How much stability does a person have who has never overcome the pain of standing alone?   Is a child humble who has never been humiliated?   Who knows how to forgive unless he has suffered an injustice?   "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,

wanting nothing." James 1:4.   Patient suffering will develop...

Christ-like character.

Children are robbed of character development when not allowed to suffer. Back in "the good old days" if a child was disciplined by another reliable adult, he was again disciplined at home. What has happened to the wisdom of those good years? When misunderstood, we must help the child to see the other person's point of view.   What seems like an abuse or injustice may not seem so unjust from another view.   Instruct the child to forgive, and allow him an opportunity to exercise forgiveness while his mind is pliable and character habits are forming which will cause him much happiness or unhappiness throughout his lifetime.   Help him or her to realize that he also may sometimes be unfair and will need forgiveness.   Psalms 89:18 says, "...the Lord is our defense." If a child is consistently shielded from suffering, the child will not learn that the Lord is his defense. What will he or she do if the parent is suddenly taken away? How will he or she be able to handle adult problems if we have not allowed them to solve problems during child-hood?   I know a man over thirty years old, who cannot care for himself because his mother shielded him from suffering during childhood.

Are you robbing from your child an opportunity to develop needed character? Suffering is normal for Christians; it is necessary for perfection; it will

develop Christ-like character.

"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin."

I Peter 4: 1.