This week, I had another person tell me that their faith was being shaken and asking why would God treat her so bad and letting her suffer.  Her husband told her, with no warning, that he wanted a divorce and that he was moving in with his girlfriend of over a year.  She is obviously distressed for many reasons to include that she is almost 50 and is concerned that it might be hard to find employment at 50.  I won’t talk about the shape of our country where marital infidelity and divorce are becoming the norm, but I will talk about suffering – all suffering.

As you know suffering can often come from forces outside our control.  Such as hurricanes or tornados or husbands with low morals or the corner of a table that didn’t move when your toe came in contact with it.  Suffering comes to everyone even those who are close to the Holy Spirit.  Many people argue that God tests us with suffering, but I find it a bit pretentious to think that I know what God does.  Actually we only know that God sends suffering into our lives and we do not know why.  Never forget that it is bearable with God’s help. In scripture, God does not promise to make our suffering understandable, but He does promise to always be with us through it.  In 1 Peter 4:19, it says ¹⁹ So then, those who suffer because it is God’s will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps his promise. And oh by the way, despite all the movies with suffering people, there is no scriptural evidence that enduring pain for sufferings sake has any merit. 

There are several steps to overcoming suffering.  The first step is to trust God.  Faith is key.  Remember John 20:29  Jesus said to him, “Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me!”  Give your cares to God.  There is a reason.  Even like the young man with a vison of being called up to heaven for a short visit like in 2Corinthians 12:7-10.  It tells of his suffering.  It says:  ⁷ But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan’s messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. ⁸ Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. ⁹ But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me. ¹⁰ I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The next step, after fully placing your faith in God, is to consider what lesson God is trying to teach you.  Pray on it.  The answer may become more clear once you open your heart to God’s plan. That will help you to develop a plan on how to move onward in life.  I am not saying to pray for the husband with low morals to come back.  I am saying pray for discernment about what to do as in which jobs to look at or which contractor to use to fix your house.  You can pray for your ex-husband. Pray for his freedom from Satan’s clutches.  Pray for enlightenment on his part.  Pray for his understanding and care for helping you.  There is a Garth Brooks song that says “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers”. If your husband wants to leave you right now, God may be telling you that He wasn’t the right person for you. Use your faith in God to ask him what He wants you to do.  Satan will try to get his clutches on you by making you hateful or lashing out in anger.  We know that is not what God wants, so don’t fall for it.  This applies to every suffering whether it is a stubbed toe or something much more severe such as the loss of a child.  When you pray, make sure you are praying for the right thing that can be changed or fixed or is actually what your true faith would want.  Right now my prayers are for her to be protected from the bad that will try to stop her from doing good and pray against suffering to come because that bad is Satan’s tool.  And of course next week we start Church camp – they won’t let me call it brainwashing camp but some kids need some washing. Please pray for us too.

The final step is to start taking small steps to regain normal.  Your normal has changed.  Whether it is because your home no longer exists because of the divorce or the tornado.  You know that you need to take a step toward that new life – so do it.  You know that it is never done in one large step.  While you rebuild your life, keep taking those steps, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask God and others.  There may be a support group that has people with similar heartaches or pain.  God may not give you the exact answer, but he will find a way or a person to send the answer to you.   

Scripture is clear on life’s tests and suffering.  In 1 Peter 4:12-13, ¹² My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you. ¹³ Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed.

So what I am I saying?  Nothing is going to happen to you that surprises God.  Take it as an opportunity to strengthen your trust in God.  Share your burden and it will be lighter. The devil will use all his wiles to change you.  Don’t let him in!  Just like we pray every day for our country, pray every day that God will help you find the right thing to do. And never forget that God always has your back.  If you are worrying about something, maybe God is telling you to pray about it like in Philippians 4:6-7  ⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. ⁷ And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.