John Piper once said, “We do not choose suffering simply because we are told to, but because the one who tells us to describes it as the path to everlasting joy.” A few days ago Frank said something to me that started changing the way I thought about my so called sufferings or trials. He was talking about when we die and are in heaven we will never suffer pain, so the only opportunity we have to experience these trials is the short time we have here on earth. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Romans and told them “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.”
Trials are not something we are to run from or ask God to take away from us. They are to be used and in some odd way enjoyed. We know that as child of God He will take care of us and He can prevent any trial or suffering that He does not intend for us to experience. Of course our sin has a way of adding trials that God never intended us to have. Regardless, we can turn to God and He will help us endure to the end to have what has been promised us.
In conclusion, if Jesus is your Lord and Savior than living here on earth is your only opportunity to experience trials and suffering. So, embrace what comes. Give to God any trial that is not meant for you and those that are meant for you, find joy in it because you won’t get another chance once you’re in heaven. On the dark side if you are not destine for heaven, avoid all trials and suffering now because that is all you’re going to get in the afterlife.
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