Hello, friend! Welcome to my blog, and I hope you’re doing well! Today I’ll once again be combining our Imperishable Inheritance passage with one of my usual posts like last week when I talked about our worldly passions. This time, I’ll be talking about suffering and struggle.
Imperishable Inheritance Pt. 6
The passages for Imperishable Inheritance Pt. 6 are:
As always, I encourage you to read both of those passages before reading this post as to understand it better yourself!
What Is Suffering?
Suffering is undergoing distress or hardship. It’s struggling through a situation, or sometimes just with life, depending on what’s going on.
A lot of you have probably suffered in some way during your lifetime. Maybe it was many years ago, maybe it was a few months ago, maybe it’s right now during Covid-19. Suffering is hard, but it’s also part of life. We can either be pushed by it or push through it. I’m sure everyone wants to push through it, but that’s easier to say than put into action.
Don’t Be Surprised
Some people believe that when you become a Christian everything gets easier. God wouldn’t let things keep hurting us, right? Well, not exactly.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 Peter 4:12
Everything can’t be perfect just because we follow Him; We’re still broken humans in a fallen world, and have you ever noticed that you grow closer to God when things are outside of your control? It’s through hardships that we depend and trust God more. We humble ourselves and are reminded that we are weak and He is strong.
So what do we do when we suffer? Do we cower and hide? Do we try to go through it ourselves? Who do we turn to?
Well, let me tell you some good news, you have a Friend.
Our Friend
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh and made alive in the spirit,
1 Peter 3:18
Christ suffered through pain that we probably couldn’t even imagine. Not only was He beaten, but He was mocked and accused of things He never did. He never sinned but was given the death of a criminal. He went through not only physical pain but also emotional suffering. It says in the Gospel of Luke that before His betrayal:
And being in agony he [Jesus] prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:44
God doesn’t snap his fingers and make everything easy for us. However, He does give us the hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is Jesus.
Since Jesus became human and went through temptations, hunger, thirst, other worldly struggles, as well as experiencing death itself, He can empathize with us, and that makes Him an even greater friend.
And when we’re tempted, when we’re suffering, struggling, in pain, we can cry out to Him and remember what He did and what He went through, and grow closer to Him all the more.
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
1 Peter 3:15
Life is hard, and doubts, fears, hardship, and suffering are always going to be part of it. However, since Jesus stepped in we have a living hope, an imperishable inheritance.
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
1 Peter 4:19
A Psalm & A Song
In 1 Peter 3, Peter quotes Psalm 34. Psalm 34 paints a beautiful picture,
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:13-14
Not only is Psalm 34 a great reminder for us, but it’s also a song we can listen to.
Recap
Remember, friend:
- Suffering is hard but
- Jesus is our Friend during any trial
- And though things aren’t easy, we still have a great hope.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article about suffering helped you! If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for my email list (by clicking to the home page of the blog and filling out the form) to receive three exclusive articles, notifications when I post, and my monthly newsletter. Thank you for stopping by!
Have a blessed day,
~Caroline
Live to the Lord 