Purpose of Christians' Suffering

As a good old Jewish proverb says "He that can't endure the bad, will not live to see the good", the same way, "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" but if we suffer we will also reign with Jesus.

Jesus Himself says : "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne." Revelation 3:21

Paul the apostle wrote a piece of valuable advice to Timothy warning him about things to come and guided him; here is Paul’s instruction:

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

…Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings - what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3

Rejoice in sufferings! Why?

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom HE has given us." Romans 5:2-5

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:17-18

Paul describes the suffering he had to go through, it was surely not easy but God comforted him and delivered him:

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

1. You can see the purpose of it all: "that we might not rely on ourselves but on God". There are so many times when we don’t even realize that we still rely on ourselves (even if for a lower percentage). It is obvious that God wants us to trust HIM completely, in everything. That cannot be done through sunshine only! The storm proves the strength of your boat! But, trust God, let Him guard your boat, and regardless of the power of the storm, "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles" will bring comfort and deliverance.

2. Another purpose is for us to "comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." 2 Corinthians 1:5

"But because you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, REJOICE; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:13