Suffering

I have met so many Christians who are “suffering” for Jesus. Funny thing is Jesus never asked them to suffer.

My Utmost for His Highest says it best.

“Choosing to suffer means that there must be something wrong with you, but choosing God’s will— even if it means you will suffer— is something very different. No normal, healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he simply chooses God’s will, just as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not. And no saint should ever dare to interfere with the lesson of suffering being taught in another saint’s life.”

I feel like some people use the “suffering” tag as a crutch. Maybe people won’t expect much out of me. Maybe they will have sympathy for me.

My Utmost explains further.

“The saint who satisfies the heart of Jesus will make other saints strong and mature for God. But the people used to strengthen us are never those who sympathize with us; in fact, we are hindered by those who give us their sympathy, because sympathy only serves to weaken us.”

Now I feel we need balance between sympathy and directness.

So in inclusion please do not suffer for suffering sake. This will not bless God. Seek God’s will and follow Him. If this leads to suffering then you Bless God.

Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good…  1 PETER 4:19