REJOICING IN SUFFERING

 

Why? Suffering produces the fruit of the Spirit, like the apple tree which must endure freezing temperatures and pruning to bear its best fruit:

•    “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,”(Romans 5:2-4)

Knowing that the suffering produces endurance, character, and hope, we should be rejoicing rather than damning our infirmities (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Or should we expect to always be delivered in the HERE AND NOW? But didn’t Jesus already accomplish our healing by taking upon Himself our infirmities (Matthew 8:16-17; Isaiah 53:5)? There are a growing number of “apostles” who claim that we should have it all NOW, especially the healing of physical, emotional, and mental problems. According to them, Christ has already taken our infirmities upon Himself and guarantees that all should be healed, as Jesus and His Apostles had healed all.

Of course, we have trouble believing this, especially since all die, and even Paul had failed to heal himself, (2 Corinthians 12:7-11), Timothy (1 Tim 5:23), Trophimus (2 Tim. 4:20), and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:26). Besides these massive evidences to the contrary, it is clear that there are multitudes which the modern self-proclaimed “apostles” fail to heal!

Well, who then is at fault if it cannot be God? These modern apostles and prophets have refined their product and no longer blame these failures on our lack of faith. Nevertheless, the majority are left disappointed, fearing that this failure was due to their lack of faith. And perhaps, if they didn’t have enough faith to be healed, they also lacked enough faith to even be saved!

Although He accomplished everything on the Cross—the Big Bang of our Lord’s plans—we await their fulfillment at Christ’s return: (1 John 3:1-3):

• …we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?” (Romans 8:23-24)

While we have the firstfruits of the Cross, we await their fulfillment at Christ’s return.

Besides, Jesus assured His Apostles that they only needed the smallest measure of faith to uproot a mulberry tree into the sea (Luke 17:1-6). Since this is so, the failure need not rest with the petitioner or God. Instead, God’s will has to be factored into our thinking. This can take many forms. God determines the length of our lives:

• Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16)

None of this dismisses supernatural divine healings, but He has also ordained our insufficiency, vulnerability, and often our infirmities:

• But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:7-11).

If we want to be like Jesus, we must suffer as He had. If we do not accept these teachings, we will be discouraged when afflictions overtake us, and we lose hope. Instead, Jesus taught that this world isn’t our resting place and reward:

• “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Therefore, we shouldn’t dismiss the tribulations that our brethren are experiencing by thinking that it is their fault or that they lack the faith to be healed. Tribulations and infirmities might simply be part of God’s glorious plan for our lives. Rejoice!