08052023 Praying in Suffering - God's Work

Dear Missionary Lady, 

Greetings in the name of the God who has done everything for us. He is so great that He is worthy of everything that we can possibly do for Him, and He is also so great that He is able to use everything for His great purposes. Below is the next section in my study on praying in suffering.

Category Five - God's work

Paul reminded Timothy that the life of a soldier is not easy. “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. … Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds … therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 2:3,9-10). Paul counted suffering as an expected part of his service to his Master, and he was willing to endure whatever was necessary in order to carry out his orders. “Father, as I seek to serve You in the mission You have given me, help me to endure so that the task can be accomplished.”

Jesus Himself suffered as He “endured the cross, despising the shame.” He had a mission to accomplish for His Father, and He looked toward “the joy that was set before him” at the accomplishing of that mission (Hebrews 12:2). If all that we do is in order to accomplish the desires of God, then there is joy that will come when it is done. “Father, my job is nothing like the job Jesus had to do, but I still desire the day to come when there is joy in the fulfillment of that task, joy that will swallow up all the suffering.”

Sometimes God uses our suffering to create opportunities for the gospel. In speaking of an intensely difficult time, Paul focused on the result. “That the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God” (II Corinthians 4:15). In Galatians 4:13-14, Paul discloses that his illness created the opportunity for him to share the gospel in Galatia. Philippians 1:12-18 reveals another example. The difficulty of Paul’s imprisonment had “fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel,” as it publicized Christianity and emboldened others to share the gospel. Likewise, the gospel came to the Thessalonians in the context of “much affliction” (I Thessalonians 1:6). “Father, I would love for my suffering to be a platform for others to come to know You.”

Peter teaches that the way Christians handle suffering should be different from the way unbelievers handle it. The difference will be sufficient that we can anticipate curious questions. “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (I Peter 3:15). Going through suffering is an opportunity to exalt Christ as our source of help. In the context, this is focused toward unbelievers, but the challenge is to be ready to give the credit to God. “Father, help me to be prepared and quick to speak of the difference You make in my suffering, especially for the sake of the gospel.”

Regarding his personal “thorn in the flesh,” Paul shares a positive result. “That the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9). He recognized that all his weakness and suffering was “for Christ’s sake” (12:10). Our weakness is the perfect platform for God to display His divine strength, and there is comfort in knowing that our suffering is for His sake and therefore has meaning and significance. “Father, for Your sake, please allow Your strength to shine forth through my weakness so that people can see how great You are.”

Paul commended the Thessalonians for their response to suffering. “We ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure” (II Thessalonians 1:4). Although their situation was not easy or pleasant, their response of faithfulness was one that encouraged many others. The prophets and Job were additional examples “of suffering affliction, and of patience” (James 5:10-11). Thousands of years later, God was still holding Job forth as an example to encourage others. The Old Testament stories serve as examples for us, and God can likewise use us as examples to encourage others. “Father, I don’t usually feel like I’m doing very well at this, but I pray that somehow You would use my example and testimony to encourage others in their walk with You.”

Peter shares a sobering result of suffering. “He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (I Peter 4:1-2). This is not to say that someone who has gone through suffering is now sinless, but rather that his purpose in life has dramatically changed. The time of suffering serves to adjust the priorities and appetites, so that the formerly-sought pleasures of the flesh have been tossed aside in exchange for a devotion to live for God. “Father, may this experience of suffering sober me to realize what is really important, and may I henceforth be much more focused on serving You than on my own pleasures.”

The writer of Hebrews recalls the faithful servants of God that suffered and sometimes died as they served and followed God (Hebrews 11:35-40). These faithful, approved servants “received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” God’s work was being done through those martyrs. Their lives, with the suffering, made a difference. Those suffering saints, however, did not live to see the impact. They were faithful anyway, and their suffering mattered. “Father, even if I never see with my own eyes the good that You are doing through my suffering, help me to be faithful and to trust You to accomplish Your work through me.”

Peter shares an incredible consequence of our suffering. Although we are “in heaviness through manifold temptations,” as our faith is “tried with fire,” this can “be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:6-7). Although we will receive eternal reward after our lives with their suffering, I believe that in the day when Jesus is revealed, all the praise and honor and glory will be directed toward Him. What a wonder this is! Something that is so hard for us can be the source of honor to our Savior! “Father, as I go through this testing of my faith, may the refined result bring praise and glory and honor to You, both now and in eternity.”

It is all for Him! May God strengthen you this week to move forward in His work to His praise and glory.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA