FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Fierce Pursuit”

What is your stance on suffering?  Take a minute and do a quick survey around the circle: who enjoys suffering and who is not that fond of it?  Just a one-word response from everyone.  I’ll wait.

I’m guessing you got a pretty unanimous response, and it didn’t even require a lot of thought to get there.  Just about every sane person in the world prefers the suffering-free times of life over those seasons that are chock full of trials and difficulties.  We don’t like to struggle.  Duh.  It’s a no-brainer kind of answer, right?  I mean, we may like a good challenge once in awhile, but that’s different from suffering.  Pain, sacrifice, struggle—they just sound like bad ideas. 

But have you noticed that, when it’s important enough, human beings will not only endure suffering, they’ll sign up for it!  Athletes undergo arduous training to prepare for a major competition, or even just to get better.  Med students cope with agonizing hours of studying and never-ending shifts in the quest to become a doctor.  I bet you’ve done it, too.  You stayed up late every day for a week finishing that final project and earning a gratifying A.  Your family scrimped and saved, sacrificing time together so that Mom or Dad could work extra shifts and be able to afford that long-awaited Disney vacation.

You see, we’re ok with suffering when the goal is something we value.  Why then do we get so troubled when we encounter trials during out relationship with Jesus?  When life’s circumstances take a turn, when everything seems to be collapsing at once, we suddenly think God’s abandoned us.  We need to remember: suffering is part of a life of faith.

Take a look at what Peter says in his first letter: “My friends, don’t be surprised at the painful things that you are now suffering, which are testing your faith. Don’t think that something strange is happening to you. But you should be happy that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings. You will be happy and full of joy when Christ shows his glory.” (1 Peter 4:12-13, ERV)

We may not like it, but Peter’s words make total sense.  If we live in a world with a clear enemy (Satan), and that enemy is working full time to overthrow the God we serve, then when we enter into relationship with that same God, we should expect to end up in the enemy’s cross-hairs.  Of course he’s going to try to turn our lives upside down.  His goal is to distract or derail us to keep us from being effective for God.  Jesus Himself reminded us that in this world we would have troubles.  So we shouldn’t be surprised when painful things come our way.

 In fact, Peter takes it one step farther by saying we should actually be happy.  I know what you’re thinking.  Expecting suffering is one thing.  Not being surprised when it happens, ok.  But being happy about it?  If you had your heart set on being an Olympic swimmer, you would relish the thought of doing the same back-breaking training as Michael Phelps.  You would be doing the exact same things he did, sweating and aching, all to be like the great swimmer.  In that same spirit, can we change our perspective when it comes to spiritual suffering?  

Knowing what our Lord and Savior did for us, the degree to which He suffered so that we would know eternal life, can we be content to suffer along side Him?  After all, suffering through training may get you a gold medal, and suffering through studies could earn you awesome grades and the career of your dreams.  But suffering with Christ gives you a front row seat to the amazing things Jesus is doing in this world, transforming lives and preparing people for a life of forever joy in heaven.  That’s suffering that leads to the best end goal!

Think right now.  How is your family already suffering for Jesus?  What sacrifices and difficulties have you gone through?  Now, what can you and your family do to prepare for the painful things that will continue to come?  Can you share more about the struggles and pray with and for each other?  Will it help your family to chart victories so you can focus on the blessings that come as a result of the struggles?  Maybe you will choose to focus on Peter’s charge to be “happy and full of joy” by celebrating the struggles when they come.  “We must be doing something right, because the enemy is firing another painful dart in our direction!”

If suffering is a part of life with Jesus, then let’s grab it by the horns.  Let’s amp up and be ready for it so that nothing—I mean NOTHING—will throw us off the path to glory!