Dr. Edward Judson said, "Suffering and success go together. If you are succeeding without suffering, it is because others before you have suffered. If you are suffering without succeeding, it is that others after you may succeed."
None of us want to suffer. However, when we must suffer, we need to look past it to the good which will come. That is easier said than done. Faith is tried and tested in the crucible of suffering. Real faith can trust God during the hard times as well as the easy days.
A mother feels the pain of travail as she labors before the birth of her baby. The pain can be unbearable at times, but after her suffering is finished, she can cuddle her newborn child with love. Past the suffering, she knows the joy of new life in her child.
At the time of suffering and pain in this life, we seldom find it within us to think about the good that will come forth. Looking back, we may be able to see how God is able to bring good out of suffering. Christ suffered terrible pain on the cross. He was able to look past it to see the Father's love offered to a sinful world.
None of us want to suffer. However, when we must suffer, we need to look past it to the good which will come. That is easier said than done. Faith is tried and tested in the crucible of suffering. Real faith can trust God during the hard times as well as the easy days.
A mother feels the pain of travail as she labors before the birth of her baby. The pain can be unbearable at times, but after her suffering is finished, she can cuddle her newborn child with love. Past the suffering, she knows the joy of new life in her child.
At the time of suffering and pain in this life, we seldom find it within us to think about the good that will come forth. Looking back, we may be able to see how God is able to bring good out of suffering. Christ suffered terrible pain on the cross. He was able to look past it to see the Father's love offered to a sinful world.
"But when you do good and suffer,
if you take it patiently, this is commendable to God."
1 Peter 2:20
