I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] John 16:33

In the last post of this series, I wanted to look to something that Jesus has promised all Christians will experience. In John 16, Jesus promises that every Christian will experience suffering. When these seasons of suffering come, there are two ways to respond: you can either let it overpower you or you can follow the example Jesus set and endure the waves of trials in life. If you want to follow Jesus’ examples, it is good to observe them, let’s look at them now.

Suffering and Sovereignty

Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him [as a close friend]!” But some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the blind man’s eyes, have kept this man from dying?” John 11:35-37

John 11:35 is known as the shortest verse in the Bible, but it is also a part of a crucial story for Christians in seasons of suffering. Jesus, being fully God and fully sovereign, weeps over His friend’s passing. Jesus would later raise Lazarus up from the dead, but still mourns. This shows the first takeaway: God’s sovereignty does not make the pain hurt any less. We can know the resurrection is coming when God calls His people home, but it still hurts to lose a loved one. We can know God will work all things for good, but it still hurts when we experience heartbreak, hardships, and loss. God’s sovereignty gives us something to stand on, but it does not mean the suffering hurts any less.  In His sovereignty, God allows seasons of suffering to come; Knowing that God that allows the suffering should embolden you to face it. The Good Father is not going to allow trials without offering His hand to hold and guide you through it. Jesus knew this at Lazarus’ tomb, we should know this too. Lean into it whenever we feel the waves of suffering crash down on us. 

Suffering and Stance

When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:33-34a

Because suffering still hurts, it can be a temptation to let that shake your beliefs and convictions. This example comes from Jesus on the cross. Jesus is experiencing the greatest pain and yet His heart is still pouring out for the very ones that put Him on the cross. One of Jesus’ last words on the cross was a plea to God for those mocking Him. His heart was not dependent on His circumstances; He kept loving despite tremendous suffering. Do not let the hardships rattle your beliefs, do not let your heartbreak dim your love for others. Build up your beliefs and convictions to withstand the trials life throws at us. Jesus poured His heart out for those who persecuted Him well before the cross; so much so that was natural when He faced even the worst of the worst. When suffering hurts, do not be moved from that foundation. 

Suffering and Calling

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. Luke 4:16

As they heard these things [about God’s grace to these two Gentiles], the people in the synagogue were filled with a great rage; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the crest of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to hurl Him down the cliff. But passing [miraculously] through the crowd, He went on His way. Luke 4:28-30

The final takeaway comes from Luke 4. In this chapter, Jesus returns to His hometown and faces a common hardship: rejection. Jesus comes into town to do His ministry and preach God’s word, but the people become enraged by His message. Jesus does not apologize for His ministry, neither does He retract His challenging words. Instead, Jesus leaves and continues His work elsewhere. Jesus was being faithful and still suffered because of His faithfulness. No amount of faithfulness removes suffering, but that suffering does not allow you to not be faithful. Do not let suffering dismiss the plan God has for your life. Jesus did not let the rejection of His hometown stop Him from taking the gospel everywhere else. Do not let the painful hardships stop you from running the great race God has set before you.