Benefit in Suffering?

Suffering can make you feel like a prisoner. Dealing with painful situations to the point where we would deem the situation to be suffering can be absolutely oppressive.

Maybe a perspective shift is in order. When you suffer, what does it produce in you? What do YOU get from it? Do you wallow in suffering, do you allow it to make your spirits fall? Do you question God with a , "why me"? Do you become bitter, hateful, or self-loathing? 

"...glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame,... " Romans 5:3-5

The Bible teaches us here that there are positive attributes to suffering. If, we are able to change our perspectives to see the big picture. And by big, I mean God-sized! Perseverance, character, and hope. Going through, or living in a sufferable circumstance and seeing things from His perspective produces Perseverance, Character, and Hope.
Understand that God may have you in a particular place, and position for any number of reasons. One such reason is to learn.
Here's a good list to think about when faced with adversity. Don't be too fast to:

1.  Blame the devil, 
2.  Stay, 
3.  or Go... 

We give too much credit to the devil, the enemy. I find that God's name(s) is mentioned far more times than Satan's in the Bible. That proportion should be reflected in our lives as well. Regardless of the situation, we should look for God in it first1 Seek God while in the hardship, and you just might see Him working things to your good. Give God glory for trusting you enough to go through the hardship. Satan can do nothing without permission from God. So stop giving the enemy credit, and give God praise!

Regardless of what it looks like to others, if God has you planted in a painful situation- you stay planted. The pain might be coming from finances, from people, from your job, living situation, or from a relationship. Ask God to show you the benefit in the suffering. Ask Him why you are in the situation, what should you learn from the pain. Stay Planted!

Likewise, regardless of what it looks like to others, -if God says go, you go. Many times we like to get comfortable in a place even after our mission there is completed. (God says go here, build a bridge. After the bridge is up, you start working on a toll both for it, then a neighboring community center). When God says go, go. We may have caused the suffering ourselves by staying too long. if God says go, you go

Allow God's work in you to be matured through whatever process He chooses; wherever He might have you. It might be suffering, it might be a storm, or wilderness experience... Pray, listen, and be wise enough to know when it's time make camp, and when it's time to break camp. Suffering in a situation- be it physical pain, emotional strife, or situational turmoil is probably God's prescription for you. The wisdom to know will come from God. It might be from a blog, a FB posting, in a conversation, reading the Bible, or a sermon, but look for His voice in it... His purpose for you, and His plan for you in the situation.

I love you, and I am praying for you,
Pastor Erroyl
~SALT