ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS TO KNOW
I am not a developmental psychologist (and aren’t you glad), but I do know some things about children. One of the things I know is that they can learn lessons. (Some of you young parents might want to disagree, but I am right.) One of the earliest—and most important—lessons that kids learn is, “Hot!” They learn it a lot faster than “No!” . . . at least based on my experience with my kids. The reason the “Hot!” lesson is learned so quickly is that there is pain associated with the lesson. You might say that the lesson gets burned into their brains rather quickly. (“Ouch!”)

In our One Month To Live challenge this week, we are trying to learn some of the lessons of suffering. Contrary to popular opinion, some of those lessons are good for us. Hebrews 5:8 says about Jesus, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered….” The word “learned” means “learned by personal experience”—he experienced complete obedience when he went to the cross and died for us (the ultimate experience of suffering). We might say that that suffering was good. Knowing that, we ought to be open to realizing that suffering in our lives can sometimes be good.

We all experience suffering. It comes at different times for each of us, in varying frequencies, and in different intensities . . . but we all suffer. The Bible says there are some important things we need to know about suffering. Let me share some of them:

First, the Bible says that it is better to suffer for doing right than doing wrong. (See 1 Peter 2:20; 3:14; 3:17; 4:15-16) Suffering for doing the wrong things isn’t good . . . unless it teaches us to not do it again.

Another thing we need to learn is that suffering can make us better and stronger. (See Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-4) Our character can grow, we can get stronger, and our lives can become more complete when we handle suffering the proper way.

Another important lesson is that suffering can increase our capacity for ministry to others who are suffering. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) There is often something about “having been there” that gives a better understanding of how to help someone.

There are more lessons, but you get the idea, don’t you? So let me leave you with some suggestions for handling suffering. Pray for wisdom to respond correctly to the suffering we are going through (James 1:5). Commit to God taking care of things while you continue to do good (1 Peter 4:19). Finally, believe that in everything that happens to us, God is using it for good—ours and others (Romans 8:28).

I pray for a good week for you . . . but even if it gets hard, God is still good!

Bro. Mark
May 9, 2008

All scriptures are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW AMERCIAN STANDARD VERSION (NASB).