“The Lord wants to use all suffering and hardship in our lives for our blessing.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 9, 2024
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. Hebrews 5:8
A pastor from my church, Pastor Sal, died twice from Covid – and two times he was brought back to life. While clinically dead, he experienced glories beyond the veil, and saw Jesus who told him that he would use Sal’s trial for new ministry.
When I asked Pastor Sal how his experience changed him, he replied, “I fear God more. I’ve been a believer in Jesus all my life, but now I have greater reverence for him.” In saying he fears God, he wasn’t inferring that he is afraid of God, but that he has a greater respect and awe for Him.
Not only did Pastor Sal’s other-worldly, heavenly experience bring about a transformational heart change, but his suffering did too. For a couple months, he was unable to walk, and he lost his vision. In suffering, Pastor Sal learned greater obedience and love for Jesus, so much so that he submitted to God for a new ministry direction which has led to preaching and praying for the sick. I have been the joyful recipient of this man’s greater love for Christ, greater obedience, new reverence for God, and new ministry that came from suffering.
Isaiah 38:16-17 says, “Lord… Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love, you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.”
In this scripture, Isaiah has included a report of King Hezekiah’s suffering, who was sick and begged God to add years to his life. Hezekiah’s experience shows how suffering (specifically physically suffering in this situation) and spiritual healing can be linked together.
In only ways the Lord can orchestrate, God can use the pain of suffering—any kind of suffering—to bring us back to Him and deepen our love for Him because He knows our human hearts. Any afflictions we experience in life, while they are not from the Lord—because there is no darkness of evil in Him—can be used by God to purify hearts for our own blessing.
This has certainly been true in my life. As I have suffered physically, God has deepened my love for Him, pressed me close to His heart, and given me a greater reverence of Him. It has caused me to desire to do His will like I haven’t ever before in my Christian walk.
The Lord wants to use all suffering and all hardship in our lives for our benefit, so we are drawn closer to the compassionate heart of the Savior and cause us to want to do His will. His heart toward us is always to grow, expand, and bless us even through the most difficult times.
The enemy—however—wants to cause us to turn our back on God when we are hurting and suffering. He wants us to blame Jesus. But, when we choose to trust Christ through our most difficult experiences, our troubles are used for our good, and most certainly for His glory!
“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth toward those who honor his covenant and decrees” (Psalm 25:10).
Prayer
Lord, I thank you for the sanctification and purification that you want to bring to me through suffering. When I am sanctified and purified then I will love you more and this will mean greater joy! I trust you, Jesus, for all you have brought me through and how you will use it for my blessing and your glory! Amen.
Application
Tell Jesus that you are submitted to Him no matter what He may allow to happen in your life.
Related Reading
Deuteronomy 8:3; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Hebrews 12:10-11
Worship Resource
Phillips, Craig and Dean: Mercy Came Running
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