By Marini Thian
Suffering is usually something we would do everything in our power to avoid. But, why? Because we think that it cannot give us joy, no enjoyment nor any value in this life. In our society today, we are inculcated with the view that if we do not want to suffer in life, we should study hard, we should find a stable job, we should make the right decisions, we should do this and that and so on… But still, will those things that we do actually guarantee a life free of suffering?
Now, the question: is suffering necessarily bad?
Let me start by giving you an example: Think of athletes who have to endure pain and discipline in order to achieve their goals to become better. They have to suffer, but it is only for a period of time and they know that the result will be sweet, and they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
Now, I would like to focus on the topic of suffering that comes through our relationship with Jesus, our Saviour, and Lord (Christian suffering). In fact, every true follower of Christ will face suffering. You might be wondering why specifically Christians (people who profess to follow Christ)? Jesus said:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
John 15:18-19, New International Version
Suffering is part of our Christian life
Jesus, the One who saves us from our sins (Messiah), endured the shame, mockery, and ultimately died on the cross. As humans, we feel uncomfortable when we are told that we are sinful so we reject the notion that we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Therefore, many in the world did not accept Jesus for who He said He is, they rejected Him. However, some of us chose to accept and follow Jesus, His teachings and commands to love. But those who had formerly rejected Jesus will treat us the way they have treated Jesus. Therefore, if indeed we are true followers of Christ, we will suffer for the sake of Christ because we are like Him and as servants, we are not greater than our Master, Jesus.
Jesus said:
“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.”
John 15:20-22, New International Version
Now, you may be thinking what kind of suffering are we talking about? How does it look like?
Suffering has many faces. It could be something we face in our daily lives, such as being mocked by others, being discriminated against, being persecuted by society. All these will affect our lives in one way or another, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
As apostle Paul put it: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).
Jesus, our Living Hope amid suffering
Why do people still follow Christ knowing the cost of following Him?
Because the joy of knowing Him surpasses the suffering and costs of following Him. I am not saying suffering for Christ is an easy thing to do. No, not at all! You may think that it is easy for me to say if I have not borne the cost of following Him, but my friends, I shared with you based on my own life experiences. For example, because I am a Christian, others may misunderstand me by thinking that I am ‘more’ holy than them, but the fact is being a Christian means acknowledging that I cannot help myself and I need God. We can also find many examples in the Bible where believers suffered for Christ, and apostle Peter is one of them. He suffered and was crucified upside down for the sake of Christ and he shared with us the reason he could be joyful:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:3-9, New International Version
Jesus is the Son of God. When we put our trust in Him, as Peter did, we are saved from our sins and are justified by faith and adopted as sons and daughters of the Most High God. To be children of God means we reflect the character of God in our lives, to be transformed by the Holy Spirit (sanctification) daily. In Jesus, we have a living hope of eternal life with our Creator God. This hope is the confidence we have in sharing Jesus’ glory and inheritance in the age to come as we have become coheirs with Christ in God’s kingdom.
And knowing Christ personally leads us to see suffering and joy as what they truly entail.
Suffering is temporary, Joy is eternal
Because of the goodness of God in our lives and the living hope that we have in Jesus, the apostle, Peter encouraged us that our suffering is temporary and reminded us that it has a specific purpose. What is that purpose? It is to evidence a true faith in Jesus Christ.
For it is easy to abandon Christ when we are faced with difficulties, temptations, and suffering. However, Jesus Himself has forewarned us that suffering will come to us who follow Him, so we should not be surprised that we will suffer for His Name’s sake. Instead, we should cling to God and ask Him to help us endure all kinds of suffering and temptations, for God is faithful and has promised that He will not leave us alone. Being able to endure suffering is also an opportunity for us to glorify God in our conduct and brings us closer to God. In the end, it helps us to be more Christ-like.
Friends, I must admit that it was difficult for me but being able to endure suffering in itself is the strength that comes from God to empower me and ultimately it brings joy knowing that Christ counts me worthy to participate in His suffering!
“But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this, you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
1 Peter 2:20-21, New International Version
Dear friends, didn’t God’s love cost Jesus His life? It’s not just us who suffered! Christ has given us Himself as an example of a suffering Servant, who suffered and died on the cross on our behalf, for our sins. He is perfect and He did not sin. Yet, He chose to lay down His life for you and me so that we can have this living hope of eternity to spend with our God who loves us.
If you do not know Jesus, my friends, His offer of love, joy, living hope of eternal life is available to anyone. The question is, will you take the step of faith to accept Him and the living hope that He offers freely? Will you repent of your sins and trust in Jesus, the Son of God, and follow Him knowing that it will bring suffering?
I hope your answer is yes and that you will experience the eternal joy of knowing Him, even in the midst of suffering. Amen.
