Suffering trains us to become more fully dependent on God. When things are falling apart we learn to give ourselves more to the one who holds the universe together (Hebrews 1:3). As death looms we learn to entrust ourselves to the God who raises the dead. Feeling powerless points us to the omnipotent God. When you are tired because of your suffering, remember that your comforting heavenly Father is leading you to completely trust in him.
‘I feel exhausted from this pain.’ ‘When will this dark season come to an end?’ ‘I’m weary of suffering.’ ‘I thought God was leading me out of this season of pain.’ As followers of Jesus, there come times in our lives when we ask these questions. So what should we do when we are tired of our suffering?
Looking at a few verses from 2 Corinthians, I’m going to suggest three things we need to remember when we’re suffering.
1. God Comforts Us
We all long for the comforting presence of God in times of suffering. Thankfully, Paul reassures us of God’s comforting nature in moments of affliction. As he writes, “[God] comforts us in all our affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:4).
During trials as followers of Jesus Christ, through the bitter disappointments and brokenness, it’s crucial to remind ourselves that God can and does comfort us—even when it may not feel like it. Note Paul’s language. He says that God provides comfort in “all” our afflictions, demonstrating his care for every form of hardship and loss experienced by his children. No trial is insignificant for God. He comforts his children.
Thus in times of suffering we must recall the comforting presence of God. Through prayer, meditating on his word, and the comfort we find in the church community, we can cling onto God when our circumstances seem overwhelming. Furthermore, God has a purpose for us in our trials. The next two points outline two of them.
2. Suffering Prepares You to Help Others
As you are going through affliction, don’t look inward; look outward. For when you look inward you miss the outward purpose of suffering.
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