Why do good people suffer

Why should I suffer?

Do you ever wonder, “Does God really care about me?” Have you ever questioned why God allows suffering to occur? While I’m not going to pretend to know everything, I do know that God loves you. .I do know that God gave his only son to die for this lonely, pathetic, world. I also know that Jesus came to save you and I from Hell. God allowed Jesus to bear the sins of the world on that old rugged cross. Jesus was sinless, yet he suffered the cruelest death known to man. If anyone could complain Christ would have the right! But he never opened his mouth in defense.
Rest assured that God is protecting you from the evil one. When Satan fires those fiery darts at us it is God that shields us from them. “But”, you say, “I’m a Christian and I’m going through some very rough times right now . Does that mean that God doesn’t love me?” Let me reassure you that God loves you and knows exactly what you’re going through. So let’s look at some reasons that God would allow his children to suffer.

1. To develop faith- Suffering produces dependence on the Lord, it takes us beyond self-sufficiency.
(I Peter 5:10 ) when our backs are against the wall then we have to turn to God.

2. Suffering reveals true character- It shows what’s in our heart, the true nature of our character. Moses talking to the Israelites says in Deut. 8:2, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”

3. To expose hidden or hurtful sin- Sometimes our trials are chastisements. During times of pain we should pray as David prayed in Ps 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

4. To learn obedience- Suffering trains us to obey God. Sometimes experience is the best teacher. Even Jesus learned obedience through suffering. In Hebrews, speaking of Jesus, it says in Heb 5:8, “Though he were a Son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered.”

5. To keep down pride- Paul had a thorn in the flesh that God refused to remove. (2 Cor 12:7) Pain and suffering has a way of reminding us of our limitations.

6. Last but not least- to glorify God- some of my favorite phrases in the bible start with, “and it came to pass”. Even in the midst of a storm you can rest assured that it will “come to pass”, in other words, all problems in life are only temporary, and when your suffering ends you faith will be stronger, and when your faith grows you glorify God.
No one likes valleys, we all want to be on mountain tops. Just remember this -- in order to have a mountain it takes two valleys and a whole lot of dirt!

This Warrior is a Child

I have been listening and singing this all morning....

Warrior is a Child by Twila Paris

Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears
They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armorThe warrior is a child

Unafraid because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
Never face retreat
But they don't see the enemiesThat lay me at His feet
They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor the warrior is a child

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and look up for a smile 'Cause deep inside this armor
Deep inside this armorDeep inside this armor
This warrior is a child.