Suffering / Father, My Heart Hurts
Romans 5:3-4
We rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
Suffering is painful and at times unbearable, but it shapes who we are. We live in a society that has taught us to believe that feeling bad feelings is inconvenient, which has lead to us not knowing how to endure feeling bad feelings. (Jackie Hill Perry)
When you live in this world without Jesus, the natural response to suffering is to cope. Whether it's through people, solitude, substances, self-care, partying, etc. With Jesus, you have to endure. You have to feel those bad feelings because there is no room for numbness. We rely on Jesus who is the ultimate healer of our hearts, souls, and minds.
The narrow road is not easy, but it makes the suffering mean something.
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Romans 8:16-18
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
We have to remember that once we say yes and commit to following Jesus, our lives are not then immune to the trials and suffering of life. Jesus suffered great things and because we are in Christ, we are also called to share in His suffering. The good news is that we can have heavenly hope in that the future glory we are promised will far outweigh the present suffering.
1 Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
For the believer growing weary...
Hebrews 12:3-7 & 11
Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens (punishes) everyone He accepts as a son.
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Psalm 30:5
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 34:17-18
17When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Old Testament stories of those who endured through suffering…
Book of Job - Suffering, Loss, and Faithfulness
Joseph - Found in Genesis - Betrayal and Imprisonment
David - Found in 1 & 2 Samual - Running, Grief, and Opposition
Hannah - Found in 1 Samual - Infertility and Sorrow
Book of Daniel - Exile and Persecution
Naomi - Found in Ruth - Loss and Bitterness