It was a Sunday morning ministry time. Some of the elders and pastoral staff had joined me at the altar to minister
to people desiring prayer. I hadn't intentionally eavesdropped, but one of the elders just happened to say it at
a moment when I could hear. “My dear, none of us suffer very well. Use this moment of suffering to bring honor
to your Lord.”
When we were finished, I asked my friend what he had said and why. It wasn't offensive to me. But then, when
people came forward for prayer, our custom would be to relieve suffering, not extend it! We administered gifts
of healing, not gifts of suffering. Since I trusted him, at the time I was more amused and curious than anything
else. But that changed.
I've never forgotten the incident. The Lord made sure I wouldn't, because for weeks to follow, His Holy Spirit
drew me to the Scriptures. Repeatedly, it seemed I was being virtually forced to see the biblical models for suffering,
and at the same time to review my own propensity for doing everything possible to avoid pain—any kind of pain or
difficulty.
During that season that I saw how much of my faith was motivated by fear. In more instances than I cared to
admit, I pursued powerful faith because I was afraid: afraid to be sick, afraid to be poor, afraid to be sad, afraid
of disease. Afraid. Fear can be a powerful motivator. But as I was having to face this in myself, I was forced
to own up to the fact that the Lord hasn't given us that spirit. Second Timothy 1:7 teaches, “For God has not given
us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Let me invite you to a study in which we will review the Bible's teachings on suffering. First, think with me
on the three major arenas of life in which the Bible reveals that believers will suffer: (1) Our suffering of persecution;
(2) Our suffering of dealing with fallen nature; and (3) Our suffering of living on a planet dominated by the curse
of sin.
In each of these dimensions of suffering, there is a special provision of grace that God offers—grace that can
empower the believer to be victorious over and beyond the suffering rather than to be victimized
by it.
To begin, our discerning the difference between being victorious and being a victim is important.
God will help us when we are the victim, for His love reaches out to all those who have been in any way victimized
by any aspect of suffering. Still, there is no biblical reason to believe that in any circumstance God intends
for us as His children to be anything less than victorious overcomers.
Romans 8:35–39 is perhaps the best place to begin your study. Read these verses and answer these questions.
A. List the seventeen things which the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said cannot separate
us from the love of God which is in Christ the Lord.
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
10 11 12
13 14 15
16 17
B. The phrase, “through Him who loved us,” makes it possible for the believer to be what kind of person?
C. From the preceding verses, 31 and 32, what statements can begin and sustain the believer's confession of
faith in the face of all suffering, trial, or difficulty?
D. Write out your thoughts on Romans 8:32.
Grounded in the knowledge that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus, let's look
at some of the words used in the verses on suffering.
Word Wealth
Suffering, pathema (Strong's #3804; path-ay-mah); something undergone, i.e., hardship or
pain; subjectively, an emotion or influence: translated as affection, affliction, motion, suffering.
Pathos (Strong's #3806; path-os); properly, suffering (“pathos”), i.e., (subjectively) a passion;
translated as (inordinate) affection, lust.
Pascho (Strong's #3958; pas-kho); to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful): translated
as feel, passion, suffer, vex.
Sumpascho (Strong's #4841; soom-pas-kho); to experience pain jointly or of the same kind
(specifically, persecution; to “sympathize”): translated as suffer with.
Suffering and Persecution
Read 2 Timothy 3:12. When Paul wrote to Timothy, whom he had left at Ephesus to pastor the growing church, he
summoned the young man to be strong in the face of persecution. Now, read the context: verses 3:10–11. We are reminded
of the price that Paul had paid to preach the gospel. As he wrote Timothy, all of us are thereby and to this day
taught that when the believers set their lives on a course of holy living, there will be resistance!
Word Wealth
Persecute, dioko (Strong's #1377; dee-o-ko); to pursue (literally or figuratively);
by implication, to persecute; translated as ensue, follow (after), given to, suffer persecution, press forward.
The word picture is of a relentless enemy's pursuit: someone is chasing you and will not give up.
Second Timothy 3:12 is often used to warn believers of the persecution they will suffer when following Christ.
However, in the preceding verse, (2 Tim. 3:11), Paul also says two things that are critical to our understanding
and action when we face such suffering.
• I endured them! This is not the tone of a victim. Paul is not lamenting. He is being honest with the
facts of persecution. He has not surrendered to the feelings of persecution! He drew on God's grace and “went through.”
• The Lord delivered me from every one of them! Hear it! Paul's experience is a model for you and me.
for every believer who encounters persecution the message is clear—if you suffer persecution for your faith and
godly living, Jesus Himself will deliver you!
Look up these verses, paying attention to their context, and write out your thoughts on what it means to suffer
persecution for the gospel.
1. 2 Timothy 1:12
2. Galatians 5:11
3. Galatians 6:12
4. John 15:20
5. 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 15
6. Matthew 13:21
7. 1 Peter 4:15, 16
Suffering and Our Fallen Nature
Have you read any of the stories of the Anchorites? They were the hermits for Christ who lived in the third
and fourth centuries and were remarkable men and women who committed themselves to a life-style of poverty and
personal disadvantage in order to become holy. They thought that the way to holiness could be found only through
the extreme circumstance of isolation and physical suffering.
Though I admire their tenacity, and many of their stories are quite remarkable, the Scriptures nowhere teach
or require us to pursue or accept this kind of suffering. Rather, the Scriptures do teach that no one can commit
themselves to winning personal victories over sin without suffering. A victory requires a battle: even a victorious
battle involves suffering. How can we learn to meet this call to balance—to know there will be suffering
to endure, but moving through it in confidence of victory ahead?
Read 1 Peter 2:11–17. Notice how, as Peter writes to us as “pilgrims” of faith, he encourages us to arm ourselves
in our minds for the fight against sin. Though this passage also is connected to persecution, Peter's admonition
deals most directly with that suffering which we face essentially because we have chosen to live differently than
we did before we came to Christ.
This addresses the suffering we will face in dealing with our fallen human nature. It comes in two forms: interior
and exterior. Times of temptation come to you and me just as surely as the Enemy came to our Lord Jesus Christ
(Luke 4:1–13). But even when we don't experience any external stimulus towards sin, we all still have a fallen
nature that can taunt us—a “self-life” that is completely capable of assailing us, and at times even sounding just
like the tempter!
There is a promise in James 1:12–15, where we are presented a case study about the Rewards we will receive
when we overcome temptation. What are they? At the same time, what Reason are we given why we as believers
face this kind of suffering (vv. 13–14)?
Word Wealth
Temptation, peirazo (Strong's #3985; pi-rad-zo); to test (objectively), i.e., endeavor,
scrutinize, entice, discipline: translated as assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt, try.
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. This power-filled promise enables every believer to have confidence in dealing with
temptation. First, no temptation will ever come your way unless you will be able—if you choose—to deal with
it properly. As a loving parent who would not let his child ride a bike until she has first learned to walk, your
Lord will not allow you to face temptations which are beyond your abilities.
Second, your Lord will always provide a way of escape (Greek ekbasis; an exit, a way out). Whenever
He permits you to be tested, He'll provide a way out! And third, God's design in making the exit available is not
to promote our weakness, but to build our strength! The words “… that you may be able to bear it …” includes our
word power, from the Greek word dunamis. You will be empowered to bear the test.
Let's review the promise: (1) We'll never be tested beyond our ability to resist. (2) We'll never be tested
without an escape route being provided. (3) We'll never be tested except that He will fully empower us to stand
firm and strong.
That's a powerful promise. However, while it does offer an escape, it also implies that there is no escaping
the suffering that comes from dealing with temptation! How should the believer prepare for this kind of suffering?
Read 1 Peter 4:1–5, and answer these questions:
1. Who has ceased from sin?
2. What are we to arm ourselves with, and what does this mean to you?
3. How are we to live the rest of our time?
In the light of your study of suffering and temptation, take time to read the following texts thoughtfully and
to write your own observations on these verses that have to do with personal growth and victory over sin:
1. Hebrews 5:8
2. Hebrews 11:24, 25
3. Hebrews 12:1–4
4. Romans 8:16–18
5. Romans 8:26–28
6. Romans 12:21
7. Galatians 4:19—Notice that some suffering is on behalf of others, that they might win the battle over sin and
self. Write some ways you have experienced this if you ever have.
8. 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 (See how even another form of suffering can be a self-imposed discipline in order to be
victorious—“No pain—No gain!”) Have you observed this in another mature Christian, or have you experienced it?
Suffering and Life on a Fallen Planet
A study of these verses can help us catch the attitude of the early church in dealing with the realities of
a world stained with the curse of sin. Write out your thoughts, especially making a note of the “promise” that
distills in your thoughts as you read these verses.
1. Romans 8:19–22
2. 1 Corinthians 4:11–13
Probing the Depths
Some teach that a true believer should never experience sickness. But even though you are a true believer, regardless
of how strong your faith may be, you are likely to encounter sickness.
Read Philippians 2:26–30. The story of Epaphroditus is precious. His sickness apparently came as a result of
the ministry assignment he had received. People who are devoted to serving others and to Christ-exalting ministry
still get sick. Though they are strong in personal faith and associated with those who regularly experience the
miraculous (that would certainly be true of Paul!), God does not promise a life free of the trial of sickness.
That's the bad news. But what's the good news? The good news is that in the same way that there is an answer
for sin's temptation, there is also an answer for the effects of the fall that manifest in human sickness and affliction.
This does not mean that Epaphroditus was sick because of his own personal sin. No. Instead, we simply see that
he was sick because no one lives on a fallen planet without exposure to the effects of the curse, and included
in the effects of sin and the curse are sickness, pain, and disease.
But let's follow this through. Paul hastens to add that Epaphroditus was made well through the mercies of God.
And the message of hope and faith is that, like Epaphroditus, you and I may encounter sickness as we seek to fulfill
our own life and ministry assignments; but if we do, the same healing mercies that made him well are available
to us too!
Suffering while living in a doomed world is a challenge. As Paul wrote to the Roman church (Rom. 8:18–25), even
the earth groans and we groan with it, waiting for that glorious day of liberty when Christ shall set us finally
free at His appearing. But we are not to interpret the word “groan” to mean that this suffering has thereby conceded
to defeat.
Never! The believer who endures life on a suffering planet can lay hold of God's promises. Read those verses
and see the consolation that follows in Romans 8:26–28. From within the experience of our suffering, as we deal
with all the realities of sin's effects, the Spirit of God empowers us with our faith to live victoriously, overcoming
in all we do, and extending that life of victory to everyone among whom the Lord has placed us.
Faith Alive
Write out your personal philosophy for suffering in the three dimensions we have discussed: (1) persecution,
(2) dealing with sin, and (3) living on a fallen planet.
1. Persecution:
2. Dealing with sin:
3. Life on a fallen planet:
From Power Faith: Balancing Faith in Words and Works by Roy Hicks, JR. with Jack W. Hayford. Copyright 1994 by Jack W. Hayford.
