Suffering.

Suffering. Few things in this life will strip you to your core like suffering does. The book of Job is a story about perhaps one of the most seemingly cursed men in the Scriptures. Job lost his wealth and his family in a single day. He was struck with “loathsome sores” that covered his entire body. His wife abandoned him, telling him to “Curse God and die,” forcing him to face these challenges alone. His friends even told him that his suffering was a result of hidden sin. 

However, in the midst of all the struggles and all the suffering, Job blessed God and put his trust in who God said he was. 

His aforementioned “friends,” on the other hand? They went in the opposite direction, tempting Job to curse God for his trials. 

I don’t know about you, but like Job did and like James commands us, counting my trials as all joy is not always my default response. But James says that we know what suffering produces. 

James 1:1-2 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” 

“The testing of your faith produces steadfastness…” This gives a picture of gold being purified in the fire. As we stand in the midst of suffering, we often feel the heat increase as the Lord works to purify our hearts to produce that steadfastness. Being refined by fire is not easy – it can be painful, leave traces of smoke, and ultimately burn away impurities that may feel precious to our souls. 

But one thing we know for sure, the One who allows suffering is a good, gracious, kind, and patient God who knows what it feels like (Hebrews 4:15). 

We may not know the why, the what, or the reasoning for our circumstances, and we may be uncertain, scared, or nervous about the outcome of our trials, but we can rest assured that God can be trusted, that he alone is in control, and that he will do a good work in us. When we truly believe in these words, we are able to respond to suffering in the most shocking way of all – with joy. 

As we face the various trials of this life, it is important to remember the truth in James 1:1-2. Where we feel stripped, robbed, disappointed, hurt, and even betrayed in suffering, God is always doing something, working all things for our good and his glory - producing steadfastness and making us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” 

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.”

These articles follow our church-wide reading plan. Read with us!