Our Response to Suffering

Most often we consider suffering as something the apostles or someone else goes through. You know, like cancer or some BIG thing. But knowing that all things are relative and knowing my own life experiences has allowed me to consider things a little differently then I have in the past. 

Before I got saved I was a bear to live with. To be very honest I still have a great tendency to be a bear to live with and to be brutally honest we all have things that make living with us a pain in the neck. 

Now I would not assume that being thrown in prison, as the apostles were, or being stoned or beaten is the same as living with me and yet living with one another does give us plenty of chances to approach suffering with a Godly response. The secret to blessings in our suffering, big or small, is: do we suffer obediently?

The book of James tell us to “count it all joy” when we have trials. We act as if this means something other than the spouse we live with, the children we have, or the people we live in fellowship with. Yet that is not true. The “trouble” or “trials” we go through with others calls for a Godly response just as assuredly as things we might consider a greater suffering. Our response in obedience will give just as great a blessing too! Sometimes our responses to the small things are a bit overblown. Been there, done that!

God knows what living with me is like so He was sure to include Eph 4.2 and Col. 3.13 in His letter to my wife. He knows what your family is like too! Both these verses admonish us to “bear with one another”.  One tells us outright to forgive one another the other tells us to live at peace in unity which certainly requires forgiveness.  

The blessing for us comes as we obey in matters big or small. Each is an opportunity to forgive and to make allowance for one another. Just recently I walked into a class and was told bluntly by a brother that I had been “stinking ever since I got baptized”.  I assume he meant the cologne I was wearing, at least I hope it was that!

I struggle with pride, so to be greeted like this was really an opportunity to bear with him. It took me a moment and I had to refresh my resolve in the following days as I had a bit of history with the fellow but God wants us to move on; I am able to do so as I think of how God has forgiven me and to take the chance to obey Him in the matter. 

Was it a small matter? Sure it was. But consider that the Bible says “it’s the small foxes that spoil the vine”.  (Song of Sol. 2.15) Small things do matter and our response to them matters even more. So the next time someone says something goofy to you or someone dear to you starts a tired refrain or behavior. Remember to count it all joy, bear with, make allowance and forgive them. God will bless your obedience!