Rejoice in Suffering

In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I cannot help, but recall a story from Corrie ten Boom whenever I read this verse of Scripture. If you are not familiar with Sister Corrie, she was a Dutch woman from Holland, who was imprisoned with her family in the German concentration camp during World War 2. They were persecuted for assisting and hiding the Jewish people. During her time in the camp, she was with her sister in overcrowded barracks. They were able to smuggle in a small Bible. One morning, they read this portion of Scripture and Corrie told her sister, "How can we be thankful for all these lice?" Her sister told her that God had a purpose, even for the lice that caused them to have to shave their heads, and be tormented during the night. Sometime later, her sister, Betsy overheard the guards refusing to go into their barracks "because of the lice infestation." Betsy was overjoyed to tell Corrie that God had sent the lice to keep out the guards. Otherwise, they would not have had the freedom to have Bible studies and prayer in the barracks with all the other women.

Many times, we don't see the reason for our trials or infirmities, but we have a commandment from the Apostle Paul to give thanks in everything for this IS the will of God. 

The Apostle Paul was certainly no stranger to afflictions and infirmities. Although he never identified what the thorn in his flesh was, he said that he prayed three times for the Lord to remove the thorn in his side. But the Lord finally answered him by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in your weakness." Therefore the Apostle Paul could say, Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 This is why he told the Christian church in Rome, "But we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." Romans 4:3-4

After Paul had suffered a great amount of persecution, in fact, he had been stoned and left for dead, then he and other missionaries went about exhorting and confirming the souls of the disciples that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22  How encouraging is that? That through MUCH tribulation...? But it wasn't only the Apostle Paul who preached these things. James, the Lord's brother, who was also the head of the church in Jerusalem exclaimed, "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing this that trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:2-4 And the Apostle Peter declared, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ". 1 Peter 1:6-7 Where did they get such ideas? Rejoice in suffering. Counting it ALL joy when you fall into various trials. 

Jesus taught us, in the sermon on the mount, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. REJOICE and be EXCEEDING GLAD: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  Matthew 5:10-12  It is through our suffering of trials, tribulations, and persecutions that we come to the place of perfection in Christ. It is the nature of the natural man to shrink back from these things. It causes us to be uncomfortable. But it is only stretching and discomfort that causes us to grow. 

When I was a child, I often had leg cramps. In the southern United States, we called those Charlie horses. My mother would tell me that it meant I was growing.  It took that discomfort to cause me to grow up into a man. God uses our discomfort and suffering to bring us into the stature of a perfect man - the stature of the fullness of Christ.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

My brothers and sisters in Christ, learn to embrace your sufferings, the trials that seem so difficult, the moments that feel like they will break you. They are causing you to learn to trust more on the Lord.  They bring us closer to Him. Allow Him to use those moments to stretch you; to bring you into the fullness of His purposes; into His character.