“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, (and distress and suffering) but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33. Emphasis added).
God knocks us DOWN, so we can look UP.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5).
Jack Nichols shares: Sometimes suffering does not come from the lack of faith, but in the midst of faith, or even because of faith, since the LORD often uses affliction as the means of upbuilding the soul and developing spiritual resilience and maturity (Prov. 3:1-2). In light of God’s sovereign power over all things, and God’s great love for you, regard your suffering a gift from your heavenly Father to help you grow (Job 5:17; Psalm 94:12; 119:71). Persevering in the midst of your struggle develops patience, humility, teaching you to know your own nothingness and to utterly rely upon the goodness, mercy of God. Over time, suffering strips away your illusions, so that nothing remains except the naked heart and the treasures of faith. Only then does the heart find its blessing in God. Alone.
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