Seven Negatives That God Can Make Into Positives (Part IV)

Hello my friends. Today we will continue with our teaching on Seven Negatives That God Can turn Into Positives. We have already considered the first three which are temptation, failure, and discipline. The fourth is...

IV. Trials and Suffering

I’m sure that we would all agree that suffering is a negative thing. We don’t like it. It hurts. It’s hard. The question is “Can God bring anything good out of it?” The answer is yes. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:3-4 (NIV) that it is a reason for rejoicing. That surely goes against our normal way of thinking. He said, “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” When God allows you to suffer he is developing patience and character in your life. Someone once said that before God can truly use a person he has to truly hurt them. That's because suffering makes you strong. It teaches you how to trust God. It makes you solid so that you won’t get shaken up every time something difficult comes your way. The truth is that there are things that God develops in us through our suffering that could not be developed any other way. Well known Pastor and author Tony Evans once said, "The reason a woman can endure the pain of childbirth is because something good is coming down the pipe. She can endure because the pain will be worth it in the end as she celebrates the new birth of her child. She bears the suffering because of the joy before her. It is in weakness that God does His greatest birthing."

But there is another good thing that comes out of suffering for the Lord. Paul goes on to tell us in that same book of Romans that “if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:17 CSBBible). Most of us have heard the expression, “No cross, no crown.” If we want to share with Jesus in his glory, we must also share in his suffering. God is in the process of doing something glorious in you.