God in times of suffering

I was just thinking about something, and I thought it would be a good thing to share.

When suffering comes, which we know will happen based on Jesus’ statements in the four gospels, what we believe about who God is and whether or not He is sovereign will be evident in our actions. 

I can personally speak to this, because we are going through some things as a family, and the only option that I know will bring me peace is spending time with God in prayer and bible study.  Not that I haven’t tried other distractions to take my mind off of things, but that I honestly have no other sane choice but to trust that God will get us through these times and that His word is true.

I also know that God is not a reactive God, wringing His hands in heaven because something happened that He didn’t expect.  Nor is He a passive God, setting things in motion and either too weak or apathetic to do anything about it.

Suffering is the forge that God uses to conform His children into the image of His Son.  Yes, it’s painful and undesirable, but it achieves something, it’s not a random occurrence. 

And you know, when God makes us more like Himself, we experience joy like no other- joy that even the angels in heaven will never experince.  More importantly, we get a small taste of what it’s like to experience God forever!

So let us persevere and be encouraged as God’s children.