Suffering

2 Corinthians 1:8

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

There is a fallacy that goes something like this: “Come to Jesus and all your problems will be over”. That is quite simply not true. In fact, the opposite is more likely to be true.  When we come to Jesus, and accept Him wholeheartedly and fully as our Lord and Saviour, it almost appears sometimes that the road gets harder than before we came to know Him.

The reason, I believe, is that when we were lost and very much in the world, the devil was not concerned about us because we were already still in his realm. But when we changed our lives and started to follow Jesus Christ with all our hearts, it’s almost like he is pursuing us more than ever before.  But the wonderful news is in 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He that is within us than He that is in the world,” and the Lord has promised us in His Holy Word that He will never allow us to be tempted above that which we are able to contain. He will not allow it to happen, but we must understand that because we are believers we are not exempt from hardship and suffering.  The prime example is found in the scripture that we have used today. Paul himself, the greatest of all the apostles, in my humble opinion, suffered more than any of them, but the Lord undertook for him.  Remember the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect through weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. 

So, keep pressing on and remember when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Jesus bless you
Angus & Jill Buchan