The Lesson of Enduring Strength

Finally, I believe God allows trials and sufferings to develop in us enduring strength for greater usefulness. The Puritan Thomas Manton once said, "While all things are quiet and comfortable, we live by sense rather than by faith. But the worth of a soldier is never known in times of peace." The truth of that statement has been borne out many times throughout the history of military conflict, including America's experience with high-tech equipment during the Persian Gulf war.

As the United States built up its forces in the gulf region in late 1990 to meet the challenge of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, questions arose as to how various sophisticated missiles would perform in actual combat situations. These weapons had been experimentally tested only during the previous decade, but the United States had not been involved in a major war (Vietnam) in nearly twenty years. However, much to the relief and satisfaction of military and civilian leaders, the Patriot and Cruise missiles performed brilliantly during the two-month Gulf conflict. Those weapons could not be tested to their full worth under training conditions. The pressure of real battlefield conditions and genuine enemy opposition is what proved the missiles' reliability and effectiveness.

Conversely, intense warfare situations also reveal defects in equipment or shortcomings in how troops perform. Based on these observations, improvements can be made. Likewise, the Christian life is a constant warfare (John 17:9-19; Eph. 6:10-18). God places us in difficult life situations to refine us and help us grow (see John 15:1-2). As we move from one trial to another, our spiritual muscles are exercised, strengthened, and become more useful. This whole process builds our spiritual endurance, which makes us all the more effective in future ministry. Remember what the Apostle James teaches us:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (1:2-4).

The Lord sends trials and sufferings into the Christian's life for various reasons and purposes. Everything from strengthening our faith to reminding us of our heavenly hope to developing enduring strength for greater usefulness may be involved -- and God sometimes uses more than one of these purposes at the same time. God is sovereign and He uses all these worthwhile purposes within the scope of His larger plan for us.


The Lessons From Suffering

1. Suffering produces fresh joy.
2. Confidence in our protected inheritance.
3. Confidence in a proven faith.
4. Suffering enhances future glory.
5. Suffering produces true comfort.
6. Suffering yields greater wisdom.
7. Suffering yields true humility.

Biblical Examples of "Faith in the Fire"

1. Stephen the first Christian martyr.
2. Daniel and his three friends.
3. Paul: A Profile in Suffering.
4. Jesus the Sinless Sufferer.

Attitude Check: Dealing "Well" with Suffering

1. Do not be surprised by suffering.
2. Rejoice in suffering.
3. Understand the purpose of suffering.
4. Trust God in suffering.

(for more information read The Power of Suffering by John MacArthur Jr.)