Suffering - Does God Use This?

"This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children." [Heb.12:7]

I read this verse this morning and remembered that recently I've been thinking about the hard times and extra suffering many of my friends have been experiencing. One gal is a very mature Christian. She had tremendous pain, like a belt around her waist and couldn't eat or drink anything without severe pain to result. She eventually had an MRI which showed a large stone in her kidney. A procedure was done to remove the stone. Unfortunately, she had pancreatic symptoms after the procedure and had to be admitted to the hospital for 2 days. She had told the Dr. prior to the procedure not to give her a certain medicine because her body did not respond well to it and would react badly. Unfortunately, her advice was ignored. This was probably the cause of her pain and necessary hospitalization. She is still not fully back to normal.

According to man's way of thinking there can be many reasons for suffering. Ultimately, it can all be traced back to man's fall - sin. Now, here in Heb. 12, another reason is put forth. The idea is that God is using the suffering as discipline to train us, much the same way a parent will discipline his child. The discipline isn't pleasant but in the end the result is good.

This verse does not say that the suffering was caused by God, but that He uses it. He uses it as discipline to train us. This brings to mind the strong words in Rom. 8:28 -"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called to his purpose. [Rom. 8:28 ESV]

God can, and does, use everything that occurs in our life for His greater good.

Consider the tasty cake that your mother used to make. If you were to taste each ingredient that went into the cake one by one none of them would taste good. They would, in fact, be disgusting - just like your suffering is disgusting. But when your mother puts the right measurement of each ingredient in the mix with the others and bakes it at the right temperature, the result is wonderful! In the same way, God knows exactly how much of each experience to mix together and the right temperature to bake it at. It does get hard and hot at times! But in the end He will bring forth the mature son or daughter He wants.

Admit Your Need

Throughout God's Word we find much instruction but I want to comment on one particular step of obedience. In the fifth chapter of James he gives us several different instructions. I want to examine verse 16. This verse says three things: 1)Confess your faults to one another, 2)Pray for one another, and 3)The earnest prayer of a righteous person makes tremendous power available.

I do not believe that you should share your sins with just any person who may call himself a Christian. Rather, find someone in your body who you know and trust. Share your shortcomings with this person. Even share areas in your life that you are struggling with. Maybe you are just thinking about doing something that isn't really right. As you share your burden or concern with this person he will help you deal with it. This person may have a word of advice for you, but most importantly, he will pray for you. This is the second emphasis of verse 16 - they will pray for you. God's purpose of this prayer is that you may be healed or restored.

This verse ends with the statement that "the earnest prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available." [Amplified Bible] The next verse gives an example -Elijah prayed, and as a result, it didn't rain for three and a half years. Then he prayed again and it rained.

Choosing to follow this step of admitting your weakness is an act of obedience and the Lord will bless it. As a result of sharing your struggle with another trusted believer who will pray for you, God's healing begins in you. This is a restoration that only He can do! His power is above and beyond what you can imagine - and if you follow this instruction, His Power will be released in your life. "His power is released in obedience."