The Theology of Suffering

Romans 8: 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Is it possible we, Christ followers, have forgotten the theology of suffering? We do everything we can to avoid suffering, and rightly so. Who wants to deal with the hardships of suffering? No one in their right mind wants to hear of a death in the family; or a diagnosis of some life ending disease. No one looks forward to a pink slip, bringing an end to years of employment. I could list horrible things that could happened, that are not far from any of us. I won't wax poetic on such things. We all know the things we would hate to face as a part of suffering.

The Utopia many believed they came to Jesus as Savior to recieve is not what we will live on this Earth. God's Word offers us the theology of suffering. God uses suffering to define our Christ-likeness, Romans 8:28-29. Suffering trains us, Hebrews 12:3-11, This training works to allow us to become partakers of His holiness. Sufferings work for us "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, We are asked by Scripture, or God , Himself, to "not lose heart."

Suffering allows us to be prepared to Stand before The Lord. While we come to The Lord by faith in His Son, Scripture is replete that we are judged based on our works, 2Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Matthew 12:36, Throughout the Bible, it is affirmed that people must answer to the judgment of God by which moral acts are encouraged and evil deeds are condemned. Suffering makes us ready for this day. It burns the dross of our sinful desires; it breaks the chains of any idols; it loosens the grip of this world on us and our grip on it. Suffering teaches us not to walk by our flesh, which does not allow us to please God.

Suffering deepens our dependency on God. It shakes our confidence in the temporal. It readjust our vision from earthly to heavenly. It runs us to His Word for Hope and to HIs people to cry with us and to rejoice with us. Suffering is part of this World's order. However, suffering, is not easy. God, no where in His Word says it is. Suffering changes our lives forever.

The theology of suffering allows God to train us by them. We are asked by God, through James to bear up under them. God's desire us to grow in our ability to endure. The greatest part of this theology is, "The righteous cry out and the Lord hears and delivers him from all his trouble. The Lord is near the brokenhearted. and saves those with a contrite spirit" Psalm 34:17.18. The conclusion of the matter is suffering is never done in isolation. In that, we can rejoice. Our God, whose hands weigh out our sufferings Job 1:8-12, is a God of Comfort 2 Corinthians 1:3-6. He comforts us, Himself or He sends His People who empathize with our pains, Or His Son who sympathizes with us in our sufferings.

No we don't look forward to sufferings. The theology of sufferings says, we will be refined by them, until we die or Jesus returns. The Lord does not let us go through them alone. As Scripture reminds us, in view of eternity, they are temporary. All of that should make the reality of Suffering draw of us closer to God. In the scheme of life isn't "closer to God" the goal?