12/27/2022 0 Comments Suffering produces endurance![]() ![]() The problem with this kind of perseverance, is that it’s done without being aware of the aid that God provides and can result in something other than an improved character. Adversity can produce results even apart from some kind of vertical dimension. We got better through all that hardship and tonight we got to see the fruit of what’s been happening in our team over this entire season”. Every post Super Bowl speech by the Patriots has gone something like this - “We had a tough season but we pulled together and persevered as a team. We know some version of this happens even when not taking the spiritual dimension into account. When we do this, according to Romans 5, something happens. We lament and pray and get others to pray and encourage us in this faith filled struggle. ![]() We are able to hupomone in the midst of suffering because God gives us grace to do this. ![]() Again, we don’t want to slip into believing that positive thinking and the determination of one’s will cures all. This is something that can only be done in the strength that is provided by God through his Spirit. The word communicates an active bearing up under the weight of suffering that looks more like a weight lifter pushing against the force of the weights on a squat bar. The greek word being translated here is “ hupomone”. This is not the way that Paul is exhorting the Christian to deal with suffering. We are told just to “endure” something until it passes. Most of us think of a very stagnant experience when we hear the word endurance. A process that starts with an experience he labels (and the ESV translates) as “ endurance”. Paul writes to the church at Rome that we “rejoice in our sufferings” because these sufferings activate a process. One of the most helpful is a passage in Romans chapter five: There are many places in scripture where this is explored. This must be true if we believe that God, who is all powerful and good and wise, is allowing suffering into our lives. One is that suffering in and of itself is something that God uses to accomplish his purposes. There are a number of truths in scripture that help us understand how God gives us joy in suffering. So much for stuffing my “negative” emotions and thinking only positive thoughts! WHAT IT IS “ Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”Īnd “ Be not far from me for trouble is near, and there is none to help.”Īnd “ my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws you lay me in the dust of death.” Agonizing prayers being lifted up to God like: ![]() The Bible is filled with what is often called “lament” - bringing one’s emotions to God no matter what they may be. This couldn’t be further from Christian truth. As long as we ignore our pain and fear, we can wish the bad things away in Jesus’ name. We think God is organizing his activity around our positive thoughts. This way of handling suffering is more akin to someone practicing New Age spirituality. Enough of the prosperity gospel has leaked into today’s church, that many of us think that joy in suffering is merely some version of the power of positive thinking. They are not saying to pretend that you are not suffering. One thing to consider is what these kinds of verses are NOT saying. This sounds good, but how can this actually be experienced in the life of the Christian? WHAT IT’S NOT “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” from James 1:2 is an all time favorite on this topic. They can remember a verse or two back in the recesses of their brain that seem to claim this. Experiencing joy while suffering is something that most Christians believe is a biblical concept. ![]()
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