“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance...”
(Romans 5:3, ESV)
(Romans 5:3, ESV)
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/0/9/98092766/published/grieving-with-god.jpg?1722002941)
As I was reading Billy Graham’s comments on a passage from the book of James, I felt a jolt of wisdom spur my thoughts. I had to share with you what came to mind.
A century ago, physicists figured out that the tiny atom carries an immense amount of power within it. Some denser atoms will fracture more easily when crushed. The result is the release of gigantic waves of heat and radiation that ultimately that was aptly named “atomic power”. Until the atom is crushed, the power is kept within it. After being crushed, the power is released.
If you take this understanding of atomic power and apply it in a fashion to the spiritual life, the same occurs. When a person of faith faces crushing suffering, in time it will release great amounts of spiritual power and blessing. He or she just needs to go through the process with godly intent to see the spiritual power and blessing revealed.
Long before me, Billy Graham saw this connection between crushing an atom to release spiritual power and crushing of a human spirit by suffering to release spiritual power. In Hope for Each Day, his explanation is offered:
“Before the power of the atom was discovered, science had to devise a way to smash the atom. The secret of the atom’s immeasurable and limitless power was in its being crushed.
Some of the most godly people I’ve ever known were men and women who were called upon to endure great suffering. They could have grown bitter and resentful . . . yet, because they knew Christ and walked in the joy of His presence every day, God blessed them and turned them into people who reflected Christ.
Dr. Edward Judson, at the dedication of a church in New York City, said, “Suffering and success go together. If you are succeeding without suffering, it is because others before you have suffered; if you are suffering without succeeding, it is that others after you may succeed.”
Admittedly it’s hard to “count it all joy” when suffering comes (James 1:12). But when it does, ask God to sanctify it and use it to make you steadfast in your faith.”
Most people do not get the connection between suffering and a powerful faith. It is only through walking through suffering that people understand the power of grace, the need for unconditional love, the need for hope, and the joy of peace. Working through suffering brings wisdom and understanding that brings blessing to you and others. You may not understand this when you are struggling through it, but you will in God’s time.
“John Donne, a 17th century poet, experienced great pain. Because he married the daughter of a disapproving lord, he was fired from his job as assistant to the Lord Chancellor, yanked from his wife, and locked in a dungeon. Later, he endured a long illness which sapped his strength almost to the point of death. In the midst of this illness, Donne wrote a series of devotions on suffering which rank among the most poignant meditations on the subject. In one of these, he considers a parallel: The sickness which keeps him in bed forces him to think about his spiritual condition.
Suffering gets our attention; it forces us to look to God, when otherwise we would just as well ignored Him.” (p, 58, Phillip Yancey, Where is God When it Hurts?)
Suffering changes your situation. It shakes up your life. It also shakes up your spiritual life, forcing you to reexamine what you believe and who you are.
When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for his belief in Jesus Christ, he suffered greatly. He was transported to Rome for trial. He was kept under guard. His life was curtailed. He was refused access to the churches. While enduring this time of trial, Paul wrote the scripture for today from Romans 5:3. He explained in this verse that “we rejoice in our sufferings”. Paul knew these sufferings would ultimately produce “endurance”, “character”, and ultimately “hope” in Christ Jesus (See Romans 5:3-5 for precisely this exact understanding!).
Paul held no illusions about how difficult suffering could be. He didn’t harbor any false hopes or idealized outcomes for his imprisonment. He knew his death was coming soon. Still, Paul wrote Romans 5:3 explaining that he rejoiced in the midst of suffering, knowing it was all for Christ.
Even Jesus had to face suffering. He suffered on the cross to bring you hope. He endured the pain of the nails to save you from sin. He died only to show you the path to resurrection and eternal life.
When you face your trials and tribulations in these troubled times, don’t overlook the spiritual power in suffering. Rejoice in your suffering knowing that God will produce in you a great power, even joy. Your prayers will take on more meaning. Your values will become more aligned with righteousness. All it takes is for you to grow closer to God, follow God’s will, seek God’s grace, and allow God to teach you while on that wild ride.
A century ago, physicists figured out that the tiny atom carries an immense amount of power within it. Some denser atoms will fracture more easily when crushed. The result is the release of gigantic waves of heat and radiation that ultimately that was aptly named “atomic power”. Until the atom is crushed, the power is kept within it. After being crushed, the power is released.
If you take this understanding of atomic power and apply it in a fashion to the spiritual life, the same occurs. When a person of faith faces crushing suffering, in time it will release great amounts of spiritual power and blessing. He or she just needs to go through the process with godly intent to see the spiritual power and blessing revealed.
Long before me, Billy Graham saw this connection between crushing an atom to release spiritual power and crushing of a human spirit by suffering to release spiritual power. In Hope for Each Day, his explanation is offered:
“Before the power of the atom was discovered, science had to devise a way to smash the atom. The secret of the atom’s immeasurable and limitless power was in its being crushed.
Some of the most godly people I’ve ever known were men and women who were called upon to endure great suffering. They could have grown bitter and resentful . . . yet, because they knew Christ and walked in the joy of His presence every day, God blessed them and turned them into people who reflected Christ.
Dr. Edward Judson, at the dedication of a church in New York City, said, “Suffering and success go together. If you are succeeding without suffering, it is because others before you have suffered; if you are suffering without succeeding, it is that others after you may succeed.”
Admittedly it’s hard to “count it all joy” when suffering comes (James 1:12). But when it does, ask God to sanctify it and use it to make you steadfast in your faith.”
Most people do not get the connection between suffering and a powerful faith. It is only through walking through suffering that people understand the power of grace, the need for unconditional love, the need for hope, and the joy of peace. Working through suffering brings wisdom and understanding that brings blessing to you and others. You may not understand this when you are struggling through it, but you will in God’s time.
“John Donne, a 17th century poet, experienced great pain. Because he married the daughter of a disapproving lord, he was fired from his job as assistant to the Lord Chancellor, yanked from his wife, and locked in a dungeon. Later, he endured a long illness which sapped his strength almost to the point of death. In the midst of this illness, Donne wrote a series of devotions on suffering which rank among the most poignant meditations on the subject. In one of these, he considers a parallel: The sickness which keeps him in bed forces him to think about his spiritual condition.
Suffering gets our attention; it forces us to look to God, when otherwise we would just as well ignored Him.” (p, 58, Phillip Yancey, Where is God When it Hurts?)
Suffering changes your situation. It shakes up your life. It also shakes up your spiritual life, forcing you to reexamine what you believe and who you are.
When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for his belief in Jesus Christ, he suffered greatly. He was transported to Rome for trial. He was kept under guard. His life was curtailed. He was refused access to the churches. While enduring this time of trial, Paul wrote the scripture for today from Romans 5:3. He explained in this verse that “we rejoice in our sufferings”. Paul knew these sufferings would ultimately produce “endurance”, “character”, and ultimately “hope” in Christ Jesus (See Romans 5:3-5 for precisely this exact understanding!).
Paul held no illusions about how difficult suffering could be. He didn’t harbor any false hopes or idealized outcomes for his imprisonment. He knew his death was coming soon. Still, Paul wrote Romans 5:3 explaining that he rejoiced in the midst of suffering, knowing it was all for Christ.
Even Jesus had to face suffering. He suffered on the cross to bring you hope. He endured the pain of the nails to save you from sin. He died only to show you the path to resurrection and eternal life.
When you face your trials and tribulations in these troubled times, don’t overlook the spiritual power in suffering. Rejoice in your suffering knowing that God will produce in you a great power, even joy. Your prayers will take on more meaning. Your values will become more aligned with righteousness. All it takes is for you to grow closer to God, follow God’s will, seek God’s grace, and allow God to teach you while on that wild ride.
The video for today looks at the purpose for your trials in life...click below to see it!