“Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” 1 Peter 4:16 KJV
No one wants to face trials and experience suffering. Most of us spend a great deal of time trying to avoid suffering. We would rather ignore the many times Jesus or the apostles tell us we will
suffer as Christians. This impulse to avoid pain and suffering is normal and logical for human beings. The gospel, however, often turns what we view as normal and logical directly on its head.
Suffering in the Christian life is not random or arbitrary, but our suffering is given greater meaning when we remember that Jesus also suffered. Jesus suffered on the cross for our sins, but He
also felt the burden of those sins every day he walked the earth. And now, in Heaven, He is a High Priest who can relate to our suffering. “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus told His followers that the servant is not greater than the master and “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). Logically, then, we can expect to face trials as Jesus did. And yet, we know that Jesus endured all the trials He faced, looking forward to a time when all would be made right, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). This also gives meaning to the sufferings we face. They remind us that a better day is coming when Christ will restore all things and make all things new.
Many Christians around the world experience this as overt persecution and sometimes even martyrdom. That is not the reality for most of us in the Western world, but we also will experience trials because of our faith. There will always be pain and suffering in life. We cannot avoid it. Sometimes we succeed in dodging one kind of suffering only to find ourselves caught up in another kind. However, it’s crucial not to seek out suffering. When we do, we act and sound like victims, which becomes our self-view. Fantasizing about the pain you’ll have in life or habitually recounting painful moments is a form of self-injury and emotional self-abuse.
If you’re someone who seeks out pain, that’s what you’ll get in life. Better to view suffering as inevitable but not habituate toward it. Rumination is a habit of going over unhappy and distressing
thoughts repeatedly. Fantasizing over being hurt causes needless suffering. If you can’t stop doing either of these behaviors, it’s time for a counselor to help you give them up for good.
In view of the fact that NuWell Counseling Services have qualified online Christian counselors to help you identify with your suffering by way of Cogitative-Behavioral Therapy. Their online Christian counselors will help you improve your life. We encourage you with our counselors to help identify the core issues. We’re asking you to give NuWell Counseling Services a try.
