Five Purposes for Suffering

For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

We seldom know the micro reasons for our sufferings, but the Bible does give us faith-sustaining macro reasons.

It is good to have a way to remember some of these so that, when we are suddenly afflicted, or have a chance to help others in their affliction, we can recall some of the truths God has given us to help us not lose hope.

Here is one way to remember: 5 R’s (or if it helps, just pick three and try to remember them).

The macro purposes of God in our sufferings include:

Repentance: Suffering is a call for us and others to turn from treasuring anything on earth above God. Luke 13:4–5:

“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Reliance: Suffering is a call to trust God and not the life-sustaining props of this world. 2 Corinthians 1:8–9:

We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Righteousness: Suffering is the discipline of our loving heavenly Father so that we come to share his righteousness and holiness. Hebrews 12:6, 10–11:

“The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” . . . He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Reward: Suffering is working for us a great reward in heaven that will make up for every loss here a thousandfold. 2 Corinthians 4:17:

This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Finally, Reminder: Suffering reminds us that God sent his Son into the world to suffer so that our suffering would not be God’s condemnation but his purification. Philippians 3:10:

. . . that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings.

So, it is understandable that the Christian heart would cry out in suffering, “Why?” since we don’t know most of the micro reasons for our suffering — why now, why this way, why this long? But don’t let that ignorance of the micro reasons cause you to overlook the massive help God gives in his word by telling us his macro purposes for us.

“You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).

John Piper 

Bible Study

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13

[12] Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. [13] But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

Ephesians 4:4-6

[4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—[5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

2 Timothy 1:9

[9] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Galatians 1:15

[15] But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,

Rock Builders vs. Sand Builders

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

MATTHEW 7:24-25

 

PONDER THIS

There are two things necessary for a firm foundation: hearing and heeding the Word of God. That’s where we begin to separate the rock builders from the sand builders.

Suppose the devil were to ask to join your church. Someone sits down with him and asks, “Mr. Devil, we want to know if you are orthodox or not. Do you believe in one God? Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Do you believe He was born of a virgin? Do you believe He died on the cross? Do you believe He walked out of the grave?” He would answer all those things correctly, saying yes to each one.

They might then ask how he feels called to serve. I imagine he’d be glad to do anything you ask. He’ll be an usher. He’ll sing in the choir if you want him to. He’ll be glad to preach. He’ll be glad to get into that organization and work.

But there should be one final question. “Are you willing to bow your knee to the lordship of Jesus Christ?” And he will not do that. Many people think just because they give a mental assent to the facts of the Gospel and just because they are working in the church in some way, they are going to Heaven. But they have no more faith than the devil himself because they have never surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

What does it look like to live out your faith? What does it look like to ascent to the facts but refuse to bow to the Lordship of Jesus?

Where is it difficult for you to surrender to Christ’s lordship? How can you submit this area of your life to Him?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask a trusted friend how he or she has seen you live out your faith and ask for honest feedback on where that person has seen you struggle to live out the Word.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Prevailing Grace

“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners.” (Isaiah 57:18)

Learn your doctrine from biblical texts. It stands up better that way, and feeds the soul.

For example, learn the doctrine of irresistible grace from texts. In this way, you will see that it does not mean grace cannot be resisted; it means that when God chooses, he can and will overcome that resistance.

In Isaiah 57:17–19, for instance, God chastises his rebellious people by striking them and hiding his face: “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry” (verse 17).

But they did not respond with repentance. Rather, they kept backsliding. They resisted: “But he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart” (verse 17).

So grace can be resisted. In fact, Stephen said to the Jewish leaders, “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).

What then does God do? Is he powerless to bring those who resist to repentance and wholeness? No. He is not powerless. The next verse says, “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners” (Isaiah 57:18).

So, in the face of recalcitrant, grace-resisting backsliding, God says, “I will heal him.” He will “restore.” The word for “restore” is to “make whole or complete.” It is related to the word shalom, “peace.” That wholeness and peace is mentioned in the next verse which explains how God turns around a grace-resisting backslider.

He does it by “‘creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace (shalom, shalom), to the far and to the near,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will heal him’” (Isaiah 57:19). God creates what is not there — peace, wholeness. This is how we are saved. And this is how we are brought back from backsliding — again and again.

The grace of God triumphs over our resistance by creating praise where it did not exist. He brings shalom, shalom to the near and the far. Wholeness, wholeness to the near and the far. He does it by “restoring,” that is, replacing the disease of resistance with the soundness of submission.

The point of irresistible grace is not that we can’t resist. We can, and we do. The point is that when God chooses, he overcomes our resistance and restores a submissive spirit. He creates. He says, “Let there be light!” He heals. He leads. He restores. He comforts.

Therefore, we never boast that we have returned from backsliding. We fall on our faces before the Lord and with trembling joy thank him for his irresistible grace that conquered all our resistance.

John Piper 

Bible Study

Jeremiah 3:22

    [22] “Return, O faithless sons;

        I will heal your faithlessness.”

    “Behold, we come to you,

        for you are the LORD our God.

Hosea 6:1

Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

    [1] “Come, let us return to the LORD;

        for he has torn us, that he may heal us;

        he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

Isaiah 30:26

[26] Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the LORD binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

Isaiah 60:19-20

    [19] The sun shall be no more

        your light by day,

    nor for brightness shall the moon

        give you light;

    but the LORD will be your everlasting light,

        and your God will be your glory. 

    [20] Your sun shall no more go down,

        nor your moon withdraw itself;

    for the LORD will be your everlasting light,

        and your days of mourning shall be ended.

The Captain of Camouflage

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”

MATTHEW 7:15-17

 

PONDER THIS

Satan is the captain of camouflage. He is the master of deceit. Again and again, the Bible warns us of false prophets.

Some say the Bible is not true, the Bible is a bundle of blunders, or the Bible is a book of lies. But even in their attempts to dismiss the Bible, they do not point out falsehood—they authenticate the Bible. If there were no false prophets, the Bible would not be true. The Bible says they’re coming and to beware. These things confirm and authenticate our faith.

There are many today trudging to churches, but they do not hear salvation by Jesus’ blood preached. But many will not call those who neglect this teaching false prophets. I don’t care how great of a speaker he is. I don’t care how many good works he does in the neighborhood. If the Gospel of Jesus is not the center of all things, it is false teaching. People can be fooled by a nice building, but God knows the sincere places of worship, the places that seek Him over a name for themselves or the desires of their hearts.

What are some ways to discern if the teaching you hear is true or false?

What are some things that distract us from seeking discernment?

PRACTICE THIS

Write down some of the reasons you are part of your church. Consider whether those reasons point to Christ.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Caused to Return

Cause us to return, O Lord, that we may return! (Lamentations 5:21, my translation)

There is no hope for God’s people unless God causes them to return from their sliding and leaping into sin and unbelief.

The book of Lamentations is the bleakest book in the Bible. God himself had decimated the apple of his eye: Jerusalem.

The Lord gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations. (Lamentations 4:11)

He has killed all who were delightful in our eyes. (Lamentations 2:4)

The Lord has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. (Lamentations 1:5)

So how does the book end?

It ends with the only hope there is:

Cause us to return, O Lord, that we may return! (Lamentations 5:21)

That is my only hope — and your only hope!

Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).

Not if you return. But when you return. I have prayed for you! You will return. And when you do, it will be my sovereign grace that brought you back from the precipice of apostasy.

Christian, this is true for you. This is your only hope of perseverance in faith. Glory in it.

Christ Jesus is the one who . . . is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

He will cause us to return. Therefore, “to him who is able to keep you from stumbling . . . be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever” (Jude 1:24–25). Amen!

John Piper