We wake up every morning to a world full of pain and suffering. There are wars in the Middle East, earthquakes in Iceland, and Maui is still recovering from a devastating fire. Inflation has affected basic human needs, and mental health issues are at an all-time high. Christians are not immune to anxiety. Our world has been broken since the fall of Genesis 3.
Where do you place your hope? Maintaining a hopeful character in adversity requires an unwavering spirit. It’s normal to feel nervous, but there’s a reason why the Apostle Paul said to be anxious for nothing (Phil 4:6-7). Earthly hope is misplaced in temporary things that disappoint. The Bible teaches us to run towards peace, but it doesn’t have an earthly solution. We should not put our hope in something temporary and worldly. When we trust in worldly solutions, we may feel better at first, but it is based on false hope. To remain encouraged and steadfast in our walk with the Lord, we need biblical hope, which is a living and sure hope placed in God Himself (Rom 8:25-26). We should focus on the hope of heaven, even in immediate human suffering.
This past year has been one of loss. I have lost three friends; one passed away suddenly. The first friend spent holidays, birthdays, and other occasions with my family. He encouraged my teaching. The women had been in my home, and with both of them, we’d shared conversation in my kitchen. In turn, I’d been in their homes and eaten food they prepared. I asked my husband if he thought it was just a phase of loss or a phase of life we had entered. Time will tell.
Suffering takes many forms and is often due to sin. We are all familiar with the far-reaching consequences of sin. Sin complicates life, and our entire world is cursed because of it. Even when we are not responsible for what happens, we are responsible for how we respond. The Bible teaches that the entire creation is groaning for a time of redemption. In heaven, all things shall be made new, and sin and its effects shall be no more.
The Old Testament Hebrew word for hope is qavah, which means hope built on the expectation of what is to come. The New Testament Greek word used for hope is elpis, which means confident expectation of what is yet to come. Elpis hope is based on confidence in God, specifically His unfailing deliverance. We should shift our perspective from our feelings to focus on God, His will, His truth, and His promises. Only then can our suffering bring glory to God.
Paul talks about people’s sufferings in this present age in his epistles. Peter does the same. These biblical writers consistently appeal to what Jesus will do when he returns to redeem man. Paul’s hope is built upon the sure foundation that Christ will return to make all things new. He does not teach that what provides peace in the here and now changes our circumstances. We can trust that even though this world is broken, all we encounter in our days and all the distress we experience will be renewed. The resurrection hope of Christ guarantees that we are more than conquerors of sin and death through Christ who loved us (Rom 8:37-39). When troubles come and sorrows abound, the hope we’ve come to know sustains our soul to greater endurance (Job 13:15). Though we are in this world, we are not of it. This is what you can expect:
- Knowing God
- Knowing God’s Faithfulness
- Knowing God’s Compassion
- Knowing God’s Directives
- Knowing God’s Wisdom
I was privileged to share a few words about suffering with Jesus in a recent workshop. My writing for this series will expound upon my breakout session. The authors of my primary resources are much more intelligent and have far greater expertise than me. These theologians offer a biblical perspective, and I recommend each book listed below. These works, my ministry, and my life experience briefly describe Christian suffering and how we benefit from suffering with Jesus.
You can receive this series, How to Sustain Hope in Pain and Suffering, by email. To do so, be sure you subscribe to my blog. The primary sources for this series are:
Suffering Wisely and Well by Eric Ortlund
Suffering by Paul Tripp
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Debbie Swindell 