As mentioned, suffering and death are an innate part of this life and are as important to, and directed by, God as our birth. Nobody’s life is their own, each person belongs to God, and God is in control of life and death. The ideas of “our lives,” “the quality of our lives,” or the “pursuit of life” is simply a denial of both God’s gifts and His patients in waiting for our repentance to join His family and kingdom.
Of our death, Jesus says, “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?” (Luke 12:25), “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30), and the Bible is full of examples, encouragements, and warnings of God adding to or shortening life spans. In suffering, the New Testament is likewise packed with examples, encouragements, and warnings either because of wrong doing or because of righteousness. Reasons for suffering include discipline, goading, refining, to be able to comfort others, trusting the Lord in our core, discovering life to be only in Him, fellowshipping with Him in suffering, glorifying Him and being glorified with Him, bearing fruit, our sanctification, and supplementing His suffering on earth. Jesus constantly emphasizes perseverance and endurance. These will not “look pretty” as they are lived out, but it is perfectly normal to keep struggling and seeking forgiveness for the flaws, grace and strength to keep going, and thankfulness that Jesus is with us and guiding us. The all-to common alternative, however, looks like, “yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away” (Matthew 13:20-21), or like former “believers,” “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18).
Suffering is still suffering and endurance is still endurance, however, and nobody wants them (or should want them), but we can be willing to persevere through them. Although the phrase, “God’s will” has become a symbol of scorn and callousness for both nonbelievers and suffering people, believing that “God’s will” comes with Jesus’ desire for our fellowship, the intimacy of His Holy Spirit, His purposes, His perfect care, and His eternal plan for His and our glory are more than worth it for this blink-of-an-eye physical lifespan. Keep seeking Him, imploring Him, asking for wisdom, knowing that His power is perfected in.., and that only dying allows the bearing of eternal fruit. Everyone claims the first part of this verse but ignores the second: “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:17).
Of our death, Jesus says, “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?” (Luke 12:25), “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30), and the Bible is full of examples, encouragements, and warnings of God adding to or shortening life spans. In suffering, the New Testament is likewise packed with examples, encouragements, and warnings either because of wrong doing or because of righteousness. Reasons for suffering include discipline, goading, refining, to be able to comfort others, trusting the Lord in our core, discovering life to be only in Him, fellowshipping with Him in suffering, glorifying Him and being glorified with Him, bearing fruit, our sanctification, and supplementing His suffering on earth. Jesus constantly emphasizes perseverance and endurance. These will not “look pretty” as they are lived out, but it is perfectly normal to keep struggling and seeking forgiveness for the flaws, grace and strength to keep going, and thankfulness that Jesus is with us and guiding us. The all-to common alternative, however, looks like, “yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away” (Matthew 13:20-21), or like former “believers,” “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18).
Suffering is still suffering and endurance is still endurance, however, and nobody wants them (or should want them), but we can be willing to persevere through them. Although the phrase, “God’s will” has become a symbol of scorn and callousness for both nonbelievers and suffering people, believing that “God’s will” comes with Jesus’ desire for our fellowship, the intimacy of His Holy Spirit, His purposes, His perfect care, and His eternal plan for His and our glory are more than worth it for this blink-of-an-eye physical lifespan. Keep seeking Him, imploring Him, asking for wisdom, knowing that His power is perfected in.., and that only dying allows the bearing of eternal fruit. Everyone claims the first part of this verse but ignores the second: “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:17).