Why Christians Suffer

Just think about how much suffering you have endured in your lifetime. Now, multiply that by the number of Christians on the earth and you will begin to realize that suffering is a huge problem. Yes, we bring about some suffering by ourselves, but suffering for doing right seems to be an epidemic. I've put together a list of different reasons that Christians suffer. Sometimes there are several reasons at once. Here goes:

We suffer sometimes...

To develop faith ( I Peter 1:7)

That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

To discipline us (Pr. 3:11-12, Heb. 12:7-11)

Prov 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,

12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Heb 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

To show us we belong to Him (Heb. 12:8)

If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

To help us submit (Heb. 12:9)

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!

To make us share in His holiness (Heb. 12:10)

They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

To refine us (I Peter 1:7)

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

To prove our faith genuine (I Peter 1:7) see above

To produce a harvest of righteousness & peace in us when we are trained in it (Heb. 12:11) No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

To produce praise, honor & glory when Christ is revealed (I Peter 1:7)

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

To identify with other believers (I Cor. 12:26)

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it

To identify with Christ. We suffer because He did. (John 15:20)

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

To remind us of the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18)

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

To conform us to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29)

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

To make us more than conquerors (Rom. 8:37)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

To keep pride down (II Cor. 12:7)

or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

To show us that His grace is sufficient for us (II Cor. 12:9)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

To make us spiritually strongest when we are physically weak (II Cor. 12:10)

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

To remind us of Christ’s sufferings (Heb. 12:3)

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

To keep us from losing heart and giving up (Heb. 12:3, 5)

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

To bear or be persecuted for the cross of Christ (Gal 6:12b)

Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

To bless us for doing good (Mt. 5:11, I Peter 3:14)

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened."

To help us stop sinning (I Peter 4:1)

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.

To help us live for God’s will ( I Peter4:2)

As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

To prepare us for Christ’s return (I Peter 4:13)

But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

To share in Christ’s sufferings (I Peter 4:13)

To make us sympathetic (II Cor. 1:3-5)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

To be a testimony to believers (II Thes. 1:4)

Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

To receive a reward (II Tim. 2:12)

if we endure, we will also reign with him.

If we disown him, he will also disown us

To be a witness to unbelievers (Phil. 1:28)

without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.

To fulfill God’s purposes (Phil. 1:29)

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

To be restored to strength one day (I Peter 5:10)

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

To make us dependent on God (Mk. 8:22)

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

To make us appreciate His blessings (Mt. 17:16) I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.

To help us give Him thanks when healed (Mt. 17:16)

To show us we are human (Rom. 8:23)

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

To follow in Christ’s steps (I Peter 2:21)

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

To glorify God (John 11:4)

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

To perfect us (Heb. 2:10)

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.

To share in His glory (Phil. 3:10)

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Sometimes God allows things to get worse before they get better. (Great Tribulation precedes the Millennium in book of Revelation)

Paul teaches us that God uses suffering to bring His people and ministries to completion. Paul wrote, "I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." (Phil. 1:6) Thank the Lord for the ways He is refining you more into a Christ like person, friend, and servant. Parnell Bailey visited an orange grove where an irrigation pump had broken down. The season was unusually dry and some of the trees were beginning to die for lack of water. The man giving the tour then took Bailey to his own orchard where irrigation was used sparingly. "These trees could go without rain for another 2 weeks," he said. "You see, when they were young, I frequently kept water from them. This hardship caused them to send their roots deeper into the soil in search of moisture. Now mine are the deepest-rooted trees in the area. While others are being scorched by the sun, these are finding moisture at a greater depth."

Paul teaches us that God uses suffering to teach us to emphasize the positives amidst the negative circumstances of our life. Paul learned how to see through the ironies of the Christian life. He wrote, "As servants, we entrust ourselves to God in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses, through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report, genuine, yet regarded as imposters, known, yet regarded as unknown, dying and yet we live on, beaten and not killed, sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, poor, yet making many rich, having nothing and yet possessing all things." (2 Cor. 6:4-10)

Paul teaches us that the Holy Spirit buoys us up with God’s affirmation, acceptance and deliverance in our suffering. Paul was aware of the promise from Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Sometimes we will never know why until we get to heaven (Job)

Are you going through a proving ground of suffering? Ask the Lord to remind you of the fact that He is with you and working to deliver you through any hardship, opposition or problem. In Romans 8 Paul teaches us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us giving us greater wisdom, tact and love when others seem to misunderstand our suffering.

Lord, help us to adopt Paul's positive approach to every difficulty. As we identify some of the reasons for suffering, help us to grow through the process. Give us joy for our journey in the midst of suffering. In Jesus' name. Amen.

May the trial of your faith be more precious than gold,

Pastor Ken

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