Suffering as Discipline
Today I ended up spending most of my day in Denver with my mother. I’m glad the traffic allowed me to get to Denver and get home in better time than I would have anticipated. While my time in Denver was longer than anticipated, I was pleased to be able to help my mother get some important personal business taken care of. Part of that included getting her set up on some palliative care services, which will provide some ongoing support.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…Â Â “Endure suffering as discipline….No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:7,11 HCSB
“Suffering” can come from a variety of sources. We often refer to three main areas: the world, the flesh and Satan. There are issues that arise in our life by virtue of the world in which we live. We need to understand that there is a cause and effect relationship to the choices we make in life. Often we can be our “own worst enemy.” Then we realize that we do confront the forces of darkness in our world and those that would come against our lives to discourage and defeat our steadfast devotion to Christ.
Hebrews tell us to view suffering as discipline from the Lord. So, while the Lord is not the cause of our suffering, He is able to use the suffering the comes into our life for our good and His glory. The parent who shields their child from any suffering or hardship is not being a good parent. We learn through the unpleasant circumstances of life that confront us. We read of Jesus, “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.“ (Heb. 5:8 NLT) If this was true for Jesus, how much more does it apply to our lives?
In the military, those hardships are more planned and designed. But they are done so in a “controlled” environment, so when confronted by the real enemy in a true battle, the equipped soldier is able to respond in a way the saves his life and defeats the enemy.
When we face the “sufferings” of life, we are to look to Jesus for strength and encouragement. “…consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb. 12:3 HCSB) We see that suffering is to be endured. We don’t welcome it, or desire it, but when it comes, we can have confidence that we can overcome it…that we can see it through.
Peace and righteousness are the fruit of the discipline that comes through enduring suffering. There are some qualities of life that we develop as a result of life. I listen to individuals whether candidates for office, or just casual acquaintances who will remark about the “life lessons” they learned through growing up in a family that had to face challenges, hardships and tragedies. Those experiences proved to be character defining opportunities that prepared them for life and leadership.
Sufferings reveal and they refine. They often reveal something to us and reveal something in us, that would not otherwise to understood. They refine our values and our faith and commitments. Sufferings reveal what can be shaken and what is solid in our life. That prepares us for whatever the future may hold. Hebrews warns of God’s future plans….
“…I will shake not only the earth but also heaven. This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace.” (Heb. 12:26-28 HCSB)
God’s purpose is for us to be strong in Him and in His grace and prepared for Christ’s return. That is why Peter writes, “You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6,7 HCSB)
Make it your aim to grow through the discipline that comes from suffering, regardless of the source.