SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT SUFFERING (2)

Suffering Reveals My True Nature
"I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory."
Ephesians 3:13 (NIV)

The word translated “sufferings” indicates something that is under extreme pressure. So Paul is not describing here some minor problems. He is writing about the kind of troubles that press against us and weigh us down.

You maybe experiencing that kind of suffering in your life right now. For some of you, it may be physical affliction where you are in constant pain or where you are no longer able to do many of things you once did. For some of you it may be the crushing emotional stress of a broken relationship, or the unending pressure and stress of your job. Some of you are connected to this Government shutdown and you don’t know how much longer you’ll be working. I know I can’t even begin to describe all the different types of suffering that you might be going through right now because I'm not you.

Paul certainly knew what it was to suffer.

“Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;” 2 Corinthians 6:4, 5 (NIV)

Paul clearly understood that one of the purposes of suffering in our lives is that it reveals what we’re really like deep inside. In fact, the word for suffering originally was used to describe the process of squeezing olives to extract the oil or crushing grapes to remove the juice. In those cases, the squeezing or crushing reveals what is inside the olives or the grapes?

The suffering we experience in our lives reveals what is inside us. When we’re crushed, those of us who are God’s children exude the sweet savor of Jesus Christ, the hope of glory from deep within our lives. I love what Paul says to the Colossians:

“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” Colossians 1:24-27 (NIV)

Do you see the connection between Paul’s suffering and the revelation of Jesus Christ in his life. When Paul got crushed with suffering, what got squeezed from his life for others to see was Jesus Christ. Not self-pity, bitterness, grumbling and complaining, but the sweet fragrance of Jesus Christ? So check your heart; does Jesus come out when you've been hurt or are facing trials in your life? My prayer is that he does and even so much more...you are loved!