Hope In The Midst Of Suffering

                                 Hope In The Midst Of Suffering

God's perfect creation here on earth has changed and as the result of the fall, no one can escape the  consequences of sin, physical and spiritual brokenness, moral weakness and temptation. Everyone has inherited a sin nature and the desire to rule ones self made kingdom even at the expense of others. 

It should humble us to know that we have mortal perishable bodies, and are susceptible to sickness (Virus), death, suicide, the personal tragedy of broken marriages, broken relationships, financial hardship, job loss and other difficulties. Because we are so fragile, our suffering, life's difficulties, our physical and spiritual pain and our broken nature, can lead us to the end of our rope. We can end up living in despair, losing hope, and losing a once held reasonable perspective. Sometimes we will even experience that light at the end of the tunnel fading into the darkness.

Even though we all get sick physically, eternally speaking, we all suffer a spiritual sickness that can only be cured by God.

God will heal anyone spiritually who asks. He offers a way to be rescued from darkness and spiritual death. 


Those who call on the Lord will receive help. God promises to care for His people. 

Those whose faith is in God can expect these promises:

He will renew our strength. He won’t abandon us in times of trouble. 

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version 1984)

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Psalm 46:1 (New International Version 1984)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (New International Version)  

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you;
 he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; 
do not be discouraged.”


Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. 

Matthew 11:28-29 (New International Version)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give 
you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle 
and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

We all at some point will have to deal with the issue of a despair and a broken spirit. In many cases a broken spirit can actually be a positive in the life a person struggling to gain perspective and direction.

It is human nature for us to want to be in control of our lives. We want to direct our own paths so we can experience what we think is the ultimate in pleasure and success. However, God has carved out a path for our lives that has an eternal purpose, and He wants to take the lead in directing us toward the life and work He has prepared in advance for us to do. He wants us to experience life with Him, not apart from Him. So, when God tells us that He has a plan for our lives, we can be assured that it is a good one for our benefit that will fulfill His good purpose.

God's Word confirms God's greater plan for us:

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do 
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version 1984)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, 
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give 
you hope and a future. 

 Romans 8:28 (New International Version)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of 
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Philippians 2:13 (New International Version) 

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to 
fulfill his good purpose.

This plan includes salvation: (Deliverance from Spiritual Death)

John 3:16 (TLB)

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so 
that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Because God has given us the freedom to make choices, we can either seek God’s direction or not. However, trusting in God has its benefits. For instance God promises 
to make our paths straight (Direct our lives in accordance with His will) :

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version 1984)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own 
understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make 
your paths straight  

Jesus promises that in Him we can find peace:

Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version) 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and 
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace 
of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts 
and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 God promises to provide a way out of temptation:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (New International Version)

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The above passages are just a few examples of God promises. 

There are many more promises that God makes to those who become followers of Jesus.

Here is a list followers of Jesus can embrace:

• Love
• Wisdom
• Courage
• Strength
• Confidence
• Faith 
• Provision
• Grace
• Forgiveness
• Eternal life
• Peace
• Rest
• Compassion
• Reconciliation
• Redemption
• The Holy Spirit
• The Holy Spirit as a sign and seal of our salvation
• Inheritance 
• Maturity
• Hope
• Perseverance
• Comfort
• Discipline

Even with all these promises we must believe God is trustworthy:

Numbers 23:19 (New Living Translation)

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, 
so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and 
failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Joshua 23:14 (New International Version 1984)

 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with 
all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises 
the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has 
been fulfilled; not one has failed.

So when we put our faith and trust in God, He will direct our paths and He will fulfill the promise to give us a hope and a future. The proper perspective on this should be; we can experience joy now, because God has an eternal plan for His children. He has prepared a place in heaven for those who receive His gift of faith; for those who believe in Jesus’ work on the cross that forgave our sin and reconciled us back to God. The reason why this promise is an eternal hope is because our physical bodies will breakdown and perish but our spiritual bodies live for all eternity with God.  Also, in heaven there will be no more death and suffering. With this eternal perspective in mind we can persevere through life even though we are faced with the reality of death, brokenness and suffering in a fallen world. This life is not all there is.

Our Future in Heaven:

Revelation 21:4 (New International Version) 
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death 
or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

It is important to remember that it is God’s desire that everyone be saved from the consequences of the eternal effect of unrepentant sin which can separate us from a Holy God for all eternity.

2 Peter 3:9 (New International Version 1984)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand 
slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, 
but everyone to come to repentance. 

God made this promise to Israel: (we can find God the same way)

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (New International Version 1984)

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, 
and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me 
when you seek me with all your heart.

I like this version of the same verse as well:

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (The Message)

"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, 
I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. 
"Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more 
than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." 
God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you
 back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's 
Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you 
off into exile. You can count on it.

The above passage assures me that when I sincerely call on God He will listen. That He has the power to turn my life around. That He desires to bring me back from my self-imposed separation and exile resulting from my sinful  desire to do life apart from Him. Even though these promises were initially made for Israel, God’s Word is alive and active and will speak to us if we have ears that are willing to listen and take to heart what He is trying to tell us.

Hebrews 4:12 (New International Version 1984)

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged 
sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; 
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 

There are times when I try to impose my own will and try to carve my own path even though I know God has a better plan for me. When I struggle with God on this issue I have learned that He will allow me to suffer the consequences of my decisions to do life apart from Him. He knows that in my case, this is how I will learn the hard lessons of a life that have not died to self interest.

God is actually being merciful to me by allowing me to feel the weight of my own sin because He knows that bringing me to my knees, will cause me to humbly turn back to Him while seeing the error of my ways. At the same time, God never fails to show me His amazing grace through His forgiveness of my less than loving actions and transgressions. God lovingly pulls me back up redirecting my life for a more meaningful live giving purpose. Knowing God is redirecting me has caused me to embrace patience as He weaves His amazing tapestry in order for me to experience the perfect timing of events that I know will complete His perfect plan.    

I have also learned that God’s power is made perfect in my weakness and I desperately need God’s power in my life in order to experience abundant life while living in a fallen world. Through God's power I can truly live a life that is filled with abundant truth, amazing love, everlasting joy and life giving eternal perspective

I think the Apostle Paul said it best when he asked God to take away the “thorn in his flesh” that caused suffering in His life. This thorn was some kind of an affliction that hindered Paul in some way which ultimately led him to depend on God's power and strength in order for him to contend with life while serving God. Whatever Paul's thorn was, the positive effect was that it kept him humble and dependent on God to meet His needs and equip Him for ministry. 

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (New International Version)
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me but He (God) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

The truth is, God’s grace is sufficient for us and His power will work in us when we are at the point when we realize and confess that we are broken. We need to get to that point where we understand we can't do life without Him. It is important to remember God is already present in our midst and even though He allows for suffering, He comforts us with His love, grace, mercy, wisdom and perspective. Let's make every effort to get to a place where we are ready and willing to receive His blessings. 

God will strengthen our and comfort us in the midst of the storm. 

Jesus will provide the rest, peace and reconciliation with God we desperately need. 

The Holy Spirit will counsel, transform, and teach us to live for God and with God. 


We have learned that God delivers the hope and faith we need in the midst of suffering.  So let's be grateful for God's awesome sacrificial love and amazing promises!






Blessings...............Dave