33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Did you get it? He promised we "will have trouble"!.. And check out Philippians 1:29
29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
So it's not only a given that we will suffer, but this verse says that we are "granted" to suffer for Him! "WHAT??!! One of God's gifts is suffering? Sounds insane and absurd obi!!" ... But wait, gimme a second. Lets see what James has to say.... ah! There it is! James 1:2-4
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
So now it's not just a gift from God, it is one to receive with joy!! "PURE joy"!!! And see what it does in us? it shapes us and molds us and makes us more and more like Christ, closer and closer to Him. Cuz of course we in ourselves are nothing and have nothing so if we, like it says, "lack nothing", that means Jesus fills every gap in our being. Is it starting to make sense? See, we are wired in a way that the only way there is growth is through suffering. It is the things that hurt us that knock us down on our knees and seek God; to draw near to Him.. And it says in James 4:8a :
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
That is the purpose of suffering. That we may allow God to use it in our hearts to transform us and create in us something pleasing to Him. We must come to the point of being humble and accepting what God allows in our lives so that the new creation can come about. I love how Peter puts it [1st Peter 5:6 ] :
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
It also takes work look at 1st Peter 5:8:
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
So when we persevere, God is able to complete the work of art, like Peter says in verse 10!
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
And we emerge from the troubling trial as gold through a refiners fire! More pure, more holy, more like Jesus. With less of us, and more of Him. with more peace, joy and meaning than we would have found anywhere else.
So yes it hurts to suffer. But the outcome SO outweighs the pain; to the point that when we are hit in the face with a hard one, after we get over the shock we can count it a pure joy and say " I just cant wait to see what God is gonna do through this one!"
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. [Ephesians 3:20-21]
