Patiently Enduring Suffering – 4

Suffering also has the unique ability of making Christ more desirable than sin. “So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2 NLT)

I recently passed a kidney stone. During that painful ordeal, I found my thoughts centered on God and seeking him. Chasing after my own desires was the farthest thing from my mind! And a number of years ago, I worked with a man who openly and maliciously persecuted me for my relationship with Christ. That man’s slander and hatred toward me pressed me to deeper reliance and focus on Christ.

Suffering and hardship help us focus on Christ because they reveal our neediness and dependence on him. When a small child has been hurt and needs to be comforted there is no substitute for her being held by her mom or dad. As her mom or dad cradles her, rocks her back and forth and speaks soft words of comfort into her ear she is content and captivated to remain there until she is comforted.

Suffering and hardship have that same effect on us, driving us to reliance on Christ who alone can comfort and console us at such times. (See 2 Corinthians 1:5.) But reliance on Christ is nothing less that remaining or abiding in him (see John 15:5). And when we remain in him we’re pursuing him instead of things that would distract and deter us from following him.

© 2009 Rob Fischer