What will we receive through our suffering and brokenness?

II Corinthians 1:5 – For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

Romans 5:3-5 -We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations bring forth perserverance, and perserverance proven character, and proven character hope,  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured  out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

II Corinthians 12:9-10 – And He said My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.  Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I Peter 5:10 – And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish and strengthen you.

Luke 9:23-24 – If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life, will lose it.  But whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will safe it.

Friends, God lives in you. He feels your pain and is with you. He walks with you through brokenness. 

Hebrews 12:2 – fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 4:15 – For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Is the suffering from God or Satan?

Luke 22:31-32 – (Jesus is speaking) “Simon Simon behond Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail, and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Job 1:8 – “Have you considered My servant Job? ( God brought it up first)

Isaiah 30:20 -“Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.”

 

Whether the suffering comes from our own consequences we’ve caused ourselves, God or the enemy, GOD WILL USE IT FOR OUR GOOD!

 

A quick story: When God was breaking me from my unique flesh patterns and self strength, a wise counselor said to me, “Rebekah have you ever seen an old fashioned washing machine with a crank and rollers?” I said, “Yes when I was a child.” He said, “You are being cranked through the rollers. You can relax and allow God to crank you through the rollers or you can go through the rollers grabbing onto everything you can touch.” As we cooperate with God’s plan to conform us into the image of Christ we will become the person HE created us to be. We will enjoy intimacy WITH HIM and experience true life!

One last point I’d like to make; suffering is not always brokenness.  Because we live in a fallen cursed world full of sin, suffering is inevitable.  Each time I am in pain, it does not mean that I am in brokenness.  Brokenness is very intentional and specific.  God ALWAYS wants to comfort us IN our pain.  Life is hard and HE is always there for us.  When I am hurting I will ask my Heavenly Father, “Is there something you are breaking me from for my good?”  (a flesh pattern or coping mechanism, a way I am relying on my self strength) Sometimes God is breaking me and sometimes I am grieving or in pain for other reasons.  BUT He is always hurting in me and with me.  And HE is always comforting and giving me revelation in my pain.  I’m so glad that HIS word tells us HE will NEVER leave us or forsake us.   We are one with Him.