The Fruit Of Suffering

Suffering is a doubled edged sword; one side cutting deep, leaving wounds that feel too deep to ever fully recover, but simultaneously removing from us things that have grown to our detriment. Self-sufficiency and pride that insist they can do life without “too much” of God’s input. A stubbornness that had blinded our ability to see our need for sanctification and growth. Suffering has a way of excising the parts that need to go for our well-being, and replaces it with a sweet surrender to the will of God and His ways.

David stated that “Before I was afflicted I went astray” (Psalm 119:67). As a child of God, affliction brings correction, realignment, and a resulting obedience to God.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that is come upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Whether it is disease, a job loss, or relationship struggle, God will bring us through it stronger, and better, and closer to Him IF we seek Him, wholly.

The disciples encouraged the new Believers to expect trials, as though it’s just part of our Christian walk. Our modern, soft cultures find this thinking as foreign as though our Heaven starts in this life, but it doesn’t… “…as they strengthened the Believers they encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

The greatest truth for the Believer is that our suffering has a purpose and a time limit! It WILL end, and when this life is over, we will be whole in Heaven with Him. Grief, sickness and loneliness will be but distant memories, replaced by joy so great it’s hard to express (unspeakable), and love so full our hearts will never feel that deep ache again. And Hope, now given sight, will rejoice in our new reality where perfect victory is lived out to the fullest every day. This is the hard-fought fruit of suffering.

(Devotional by Cheryl Hall-Laos)