You have been made new in Christ. You are a new creation — baptized, washed, and claimed by the Lord.
And yet, suffering still comes.
Why?
Scripture helps with this question.
➡️ James writes that trials produce perseverance and shape a stronger, deeper faith. (James 1:2-4)
➡️ Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, says those who suffer for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. (Matt 5)
➡️ Paul, in Philippians reminds us that to suffer like Christ is to be conformed to Him. (Phil. 1)
➡️ Peter tells us not to be surprised when suffering comes— it came to our Lord first. (1 Pet. 4)
➡️ Sometimes suffering is a form of loving discipline, as Proverbs teaches. The Lord disciplines those He loves, shaping us through hardship so we may walk more closely in His ways. (Prov. 3)
Other times, suffering simply reminds us that we are not self-sufficient. We need God.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12, quoting Christ, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
The world is still broken. And because you are in Christ, the world will not always welcome you. But take heart.
God promises a day when God Himself will wipe away every tear. There will be no more death, sorrow, or pain. The old order will pass away.
So if you suffer, do not despair. Your suffering is not meaningless.
Even now, God is using it to bring about good.
And in the end, no matter what happens to us, God himself will bring us to him. And give us his everlasting salvation.
Contributor Chris Brademeyer is Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND.
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