Philippians 1:29: For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake…”
Over the years of serving in pastoral care, I’ve noticed a few things about the way followers of Jesus handle suffering. Anyone who has lived a little knows that life is often hard. Surely there is much to be thankful for, but many of our days are still filled with heartache and sorrow.
Who among us has never uttered, “Why me, Lord? Why can’t you just give me a break?” These are questions asked at times when we are experiencing the deep troughs of life. The kind of times when trial after trial comes, like waves pounding on the shore during a violent storm. Sometimes we just don’t know if we can keep going. 
The “why me?” question is one worth focusing on. How do we, as followers of Jesus, weather life’s many storms? How do we avoid the debilitating bitterness that leaves us shipwrecked, unable to carry out all that God wants for us?
A friend of mine who was diagnosed with a difficult life-threatening cancer recently was asked by someone, “Do you ever ask God, why me?” His response was insightful.
“Why not me?” he replied. This man was a true believer in Jesus, one who took Him at His Word. He believed Christ’s own words where He said, “In this world, you WILL have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome this world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus was a proponent of “truth in advertising.” He didn’t sugar-coat the world we live in. He had no reason to paint a prettier picture than is reflected by reality. The Gospel itself first acknowledges that we have a sin problem that permeates all of life, even our health and well-being. Sadly, our devotion to the Lord does not make us immune to sickness and disease. It doesn’t shield us from famine or loss. It also doesn’t make us impervious to theft or physical harm that may befall us. No, life remains challenging even after we choose to follow Jesus.
Knowing that trouble is part of life on this planet is helpful as we navigate it. It is also encouraging when we remember that hard times are ultimately temporary. As John writes, “He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
What else is valuable? To know how beneficial enduring tribulation can be for the Christian. Most of us are familiar with the words of Jesus’s brother, James, when he says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
These verses make one thing clear: our sufferings accomplish God’s purposes in our lives. He uses them to shape us, molding us into the kinds of people He wants us to be. Think about your life for a minute. When everything is going well and we aren’t going through rough waters of any kind, those can easily become the times that we lean towards complacency and self-reliance. When the sailing is smooth, we may be more tempted to drift through life without God. The need for Him, in those moments, is less evident.
On the other hand, those times when life is throwing everything at us…those are the times that we cry out to God and hang on for dear life. We cling to Christ, recognizing how utterly dependent on Him we are! What a wonderful place to be as a disciple of Jesus. When we are dependent on Him, God has us right where he wants us! For me, it is during the truly difficult times in life that I look back and notice the most significant growth. These are the times where I have seen God to be truly faithful!
Could this be the reason that Paul refers to suffering for the sake of Christ as a privilege? It would be sadistic of us to want and pray for suffering. But it is good for the “way of God” to be so second-nature to us, that our natural response to hardship would be to say, “Bring it on, Lord. Lord, I look forward to the work you are accomplishing in my life.”
Or, at the very least… “Let’s get this over with.”
If the Son of Man had to suffer many things, should we expect a trouble-free existence? Not at all! It is, however, one more opportunity for God to shape our character and make us “perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
If you are experiencing suffering, here are a few resources that may help:
Prayer Ministry – Receive prayer in your time of need, and find ways to join with our church family by lifting each other up in prayer.
Care & Support – Find resources for counseling, marriage restoration, grief support, and more.
