Episode Transcript
Hello and welcome to another episode of Worldwide Wonderful Women. I am your host Paula Harris, and this podcast is for women who are all about learning to live in God's divine power. It is produced on behalf of Transformed Worldwide Ministries. Thank you so much for being here.
Suffering takes on many forms in each person’s life. The onslaught of agony, affliction, distress, intense pain, trauma and sorrow is a part of the human experience since the fall of Adam and the entrance of sin into the world. As Christians, we are not exempted from suffering. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are united even further with Him through the experience of suffering. The Epistle of 1 Peter explains that. The Book of Hebrews declares that Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered (5:8), and that He was perfected through suffering (2:10). The same is true of us.
You may be one who has not experienced much suffering in your life. Yet at some point it confronts each of us whether within or outside of our families, whether at home or abroad. Suffering takes on many forms and can affect us physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Any effort on our part to explain clearly why we or someone else may be suffering is futile. Like Job’s friends who tried to explain his experience, we will only frustrate one another, be condemned by our conclusions, and annoy God by sliding Him to the side as we take over.
Deuteronomy 29:29 states, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” So there may be times when unanswered questions remain when we suffer. God did not give an explanation to Job or to his friends regarding what was taking place between Him and Satan. There will be many times when we will not be able to comprehend what God is doing with our finite minds. Then the question may arise, how do you get through suffering since none of us can avoid it altogether?
There are 3 main things I believe we cannot neglect to do if we are to get through our suffering. All three begin with the letter "P" so you can remember them.
The first is to PRAY:
During times of suffering we may not want to connect with the One we feel allowed such pain to enter our lives. We know He is sovereign and nothing can touch us apart from His allowance. Yet, neglecting to pray is the biggest mistake some make. This is the most important step to take for:
1. It quiets our hearts before the One who truly does love us. In times of suffering, we need to be reassured of this. It shuts everything else out as we draw near to our Father so we can hear His voice above all else, worship Him, receive assurance of His presence, and to know His will in this situation.
2. It connects us with the source of life and the solution for all things we desire and need at this time.
3. It displays humility on our part, for we are seeking the only One who can give us guidance and direction through the pain.
4. It is the designated weapon God has given us to destroy yokes of bondage and set us free from the temptation and traps of Satan.
5. It is the privilege God has given us to boldly come before our King on His throne to make our requests known. Knowing no one has more authority than He.
6. It is the vehicle by which we receive power, might, hope, faith, and wisdom to overcome that which is trying to defeat us.
7. It is the means by which we express thanks and gratitude for deliverance even before we see it, because we pray in Jesus’ Name who has secured our victory over all things already. Therefore, we can count it done.
The Psalms encourage us to keep on praying even when we are angry with God, not assured of his intentions or His presence, doubting His care and provision and protection, or His love for us in the situation. The Psalms let us know that we can express genuinely how we feel without fear of punishment from God. God will hear the prayers of those who cry out for help and comfort, especially when brokenhearted.
First Peter 5:7 states, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
The second is to PROCLAIM:
The Scriptures contain a multitude of God’s promises that when combined with our faith can move mountains when all appears shattered. Faith must always be placed correctly in God and in no one or nothing else. It takes faith to trust and to have confidence that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. When this faith is operating in us, we are able to proclaim Him and His promises as we ought. Faith is mentioned in Ephesians 6:16 and:
1. It is given as a shield against doubts, fears and spiritual attacks. These are the internal things that can prolong our suffering or cause us to be defeated by them.
2. It is to protect us from the “fiery darts” of Satan. Satan will try to cause us to not trust God and His promises. To doubt His love and protection for us. He will try to force us to accept his lies over God’s truth. He will batter us with negativity so we will not take positive steps of faith.
3. It is why we can proclaim the truth of what God says over us, our family members, life situations, and any forces seen and unseen in this world. This shield of faith is a gift from God to powerfully bring His kingdom purposes into our lives and others here on the earth.
4. It is the means of protecting and guarding our hearts from giving up, collapsing, claiming defeat, or losing desire to continue one more day.
5. It is lifted up to signify that we are dependent upon God to fight our battles, rescue us, and deliver us in our present situation. Exodus 14:14 states, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
6. It is the only way to defeat mental anguish, sleepless nights, anxiety, stress, and fretting. For faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The Word of God is so powerful when coupled with faith, that it will provide peace, calmness, hope, confidence, positive expectancy, love, and joy. It is the only way to believe for what you do want verses what you don’t want. And as a man thinketh, so is he.
The third is to PLOW THROUGH:
When I say, plow through, I am not talking about our trying to fix things, fix people, fix the situation, or fix our lives in our own strength. To get through suffering where we come out on the other side whole, it is going to take the hand of God, His strength, operating through us. So what is it about His divine strength?
1. It is the only way to come out on the other side having gained spiritual insight and growth to achieve more for His kingdom purposes.
2. It is the only way to glorify Him and not yourself. For you will have to acknowledge that He only is the one who brought you through and took your mess and made a message out of it. His strength will be the light that shines through you.
3. It is the only way to bear witness of Who He is so those who do not know Him will see His strength in us and desire to know Him too.
4. It is the only way that you will be able to get up off the couch and take one step at a time, one day at a time, one week at a time, and one year at a time.
5. It can be a means of drawing closer to God and having a higher level of intimacy knowing that He is trustworthy and full of mercy and grace.
6. It will help us to persevere and develop Christlike character in ways we would otherwise not be able to accomplish.
7. It will help us to keep looking up knowing that this place is not our home and our Savior will truely come back to receive us to Himself.
Some scriptures to keep in mind about plowing through:
Zechariah 4:6 - ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty."
Psalms 46:10 - "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 16:8 - "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
Isaiah 46:4-5 - "Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you. Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you. I made you and will continue to care for you."
How do you get through suffering?
You pray, proclaim, and plow through with the assistance and guidance of His Holy Spirit abiding in you. If you will do at least these three things, you will see a difference when suffering comes upon you.
There is so much more that can be said about suffering, but I hope this helps you in some way. Don’t forget to join us next month…and smile…Jesus loves you!
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