Of all the blessings that the Lord bestows he uses suffering in our lives to cause us to mature, to draw near to Him and to become more like His Son. Calvin echoes Joseph when he states: 'God turns to welfare, what appears to be miserable.' There are Christians all over the world that are crying out more and more for God's mercy. Newsweek cover story: "The War on Christians" 309% increase on Christians in Africa, the Middle East and Asia from 2003 to 2010.
But even this kind of suffering can be a gift from the hand of our Heavenly Father as Paul affirms in Philippians 1:29-' For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.'
But our usual response suffering is flight or fright. We want to flee because we are frightened. Paul urges us not to be terrorized, but to believe instead. Faith is the antidote to fear. Psalm 56:3,4. To believe in Him, in Jesus, who He is and what He has done. To believe in Him and to receive Him and to follow His calling to deny yourself, to take up your cross daily and to follow Him.
We never have to be alone in our suffering since the Lord has given us one another as members of His body to bear one anothers burdens. The only one who had to face suffering alone was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. Hebrews 13:12,13
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