Do You Know How To Overcome The Suffering Of Life With A Godly Purpose?
Good Morning Friends,
The pain of life is inevitable regardless of whether one is engaged in a purpose that glorifies God. The suffering however may be optional. We do not have to suffer the cuts and scrapes from criticism and rejection. We do not have to suffer muscle atrophy from the lack of healthy relationships. We do not have to suffer forever the distress and trauma of broken lives and death. We do not have to drink the guilt that poisons us. And friends, we do not have to pick at the emotional scabs reliving the suffering. There is a way to resilience and healing in the Body of Christ. Do You Know How To Overcome The Suffering Of Life With A Godly Purpose?
Scripture: For according to their deeds he will repay them, and according to their ways he will make it befall them. Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. Who gave him charge over the earth and who laid on him the whole world? If he should take back his spirit to himself, and gather to himself his breath, all flesh would perish together, and all mortals return to dust.
Job 34.11-37 (NRSV)
Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air;
1 Corinthians 9:24-26 (NRSV)
But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:14-15 (NRSV)
The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent will draw them out.
Proverbs 20:5 (NRSV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NRSV)
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.
Psalms 147:3 (NRSV)
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13 (NRSV)
Message: You can handle enormous pain and discipline in your life if you realize there’s a purpose for it and that there’s going to be a desired outcome at the end. God is in no hurry and will cheer us on to the goal line but will also run with us helping us to be healthier. You see we need to run with God so we can be guided to avoid needless pitfalls. We need to have a mature patience and discipline in our emotions and actions. And one way to develop that is to be engaged with a purpose that pleases God. You see Noah worked on the Ark for years waiting for rain and became younger in the process. Abraham went out from his home not knowing where he was going as part of a covenant of faith and ended up having a child in his old age helping to fulfill God’s promise. Joseph was sold into slavery but was still faithful ultimately realizing that God can and does use the challenges of our life for good…Moses led the Hebrew nation to the Red Sea in faith, then after deliverance waited 40 years in the desert. Joshua not only had a spirit to stay focused for 40 years in the desert but the patience to march an army around Jericho seven times after coming into the Promised Land. Samson, Samuel, David all desired in faith to finish well…learning to wait on the Lord. And Jesus…And Jesus endured the cross in faith for an event that each human must wait to receive. And in our marathon race of life each one of these heroes of the faith join with God and the angels in cheering us on. Like Paul we are to run the race with patience…never quitting…never losing heart for we too have been promised a purpose to use the gifts we have been given. And here is the point, running the race of a purposeful life can be a challenge but also a way to a healthier life if we persevere. For somehow we become healthier when engaged in that purpose and less healthy when we are not. Moreover this health or lack of it spills over into the lives of those around us so what is happening is that when we are healthy we serve as a means of helping others to become healthy as well. So friends, know this, on the journey we need to become what God wants us to be in order to reduce the suffering of others. Of course we can get sidelined and run off course. We can even fail to make it to the finish line and that means we will never win the prize. Therefore we must be intentional not casual or weekend warriors. We must be committed to becoming more mature in our faith… to be more of what God wants us to be on a daily basis. Friends, the reward is about enduring the trials of life and being victorious in a life lived with a purpose that permeates our very being. We need a life with a purpose that glorifies God. And that means in part means joining with the Body of Believers in sharing the answer for those suffering in the world.
Pray that we withstand the trials of faith knowing that God is willing and ready to provide for our every need if we but ask. Pray that we gain strength from every victory given us by grace through faith. Pray we make better choices. Pray we see the way God would have us to see. Pray we build up our worth by using the gifts we have been given for a purpose that glorifies God. Pray therefor we not succumb to pessimism. Pray we strengthen our relationship muscles by loving others. Pray we give ourselves time to heal. Pray we forgive ourselves and others. Pray we focus on the goal instead of picking at the past. Pray we become more disciplined. Pray we are committed to a cause worth of being called Christian. Pray we keep our eyes on Christ. Pray we have a gentle reasonableness with others on the way realizing that the ultimate goal is to have everyone finish well. Pray we realize that God’s purpose is to save us. Pray we realize that Christ’s purpose focused in us saves us. Pray we realize that we will never become great doing whatever we want unless what we really want is to love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 