Three Benefits of Suffering for Christians

Have you ever thought what it would be like to suffer as a Christian in America?

Many media stories invoke fear into the hearts of conservative evangelicals. The implementation of gender neutral bathrooms, the seemingly unchristian moral qualities of politicians running for office, the apparent hostility of colleges toward Christian thought, and the decline in church attendance all spell doom for Christians. “This is a sure sign of the End,” many Christians are saying.

Other Christians are more optimistic. They do not see the LGBT community as threatening. They like the “Tell is like it is” demeanor of some leaders. They do not view church attendance as necessary but feel instead that, now more than ever, people are open to spirituality.

Whichever side you lean on, suppose for a moment that there will come a time where Christians will be persecuted in America the same way believers are persecuted in anti-Christian countries today? What would you do if you were put in jail  or executed for professing faith in Christian doctrines?

Suffering in Scripture

In the Book of Hebrews, we learn that Christians in the first century experienced that scenario. Many Jews who had converted to Christianity were threatened with the loss of their possessions, put in prison, or executed in horrible ways. As a result, many new Christians thought about renouncing their faith. Some Christians went into hiding and never voiced their opinions publicly. Perhaps if they weren’t Christians, they would not suffer.

However, the anonymous author of the book knew that there was a better way. Suffering cannot be avoided in life, but it can be used for good. As it has been said, “If you have to suffer, suffer well.” In fact, as counter intuitive as it may seem, suffering can yield benefits.

Here are some valuable lessons that the author wanted to teach his audience that can be learned by us in modern times.

1. When we suffer, we can draw closer to God than ever before.

This is what the author of Hebrews writes in chapter ten:

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (v. 19-23 English Standard Version)

Prior to this the author teaches about the sufferings of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins, turned away God’s wrath from us, and reconciled us to God. The cross is the foundation for our relationship with God. The cross enabled us to draw near to God without fear of judgment or loss of eternal life.

Thus, when we suffer, we have the opportunity to feel the peace of God if we consciously draw near to God. But can’t we draw near to God without suffering? Yes, but as C.S. Lewis aptly said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

When I was 14 years old, I was on the verge of attempting suicide. I felt depressed, unloved, and uncared for. I did not have any friends, my home life was a wreck. I had allowed false philosophies and lies to invade my mind. And it was then in desperation that I reached out to God at a retreat on a Christian camp. I felt His presence and it was like a light switch came on.

Now, I did not have a terrible childhood. My parents did the best they could to raise me with material comforts, a good education, and religion. I had the freedom to pursue whichever hobbies I wanted. I had the opportunity to enjoy God through the good things He provided.

But it was a season of suffering, emotional pain and intellectual doubt, that convinced me I needed God more than ever.

2. When we suffer, we can be rewarded.

Many times when we suffer, we think we are being punished by God for some type of sin we knowingly or unknowingly committed. Or, we may think that life or God is being unfair. Whatever the cause of our suffering may be, God promises to reward people who suffer.

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (10:35-36)

For some people, it may seem unfair that God would dole out rewards. After all, if the Christian faith teaches that we cannot earn our salvation, then aren’t we are all on a level playing field? If none of our good works can get us into Heaven, then how is it that some believers’ works will be rewarded after they enter Heaven?

A simple analogy would help. Life is war. There is good and evil. There is light and dark. And we Christians are against the darkness. The world will hate us. The world will insult us, persecute us, steal our possessions, throw us in prison. We may become casualties.

But in any war, those who suffer for fighting for their country are rewarded. In the United States, the President gives purple hearts to veterans who sacrifice themselves in the line of duty.

As Christians, when we suffer, we will have an even greater reward from the King of Kings. Jesus said it this way: whatever you lose-family, friends, home- you will gain a hundred times as much in eternity (Mark 10:30). We pay homage and respect to soldiers who sacrifice for their country; we even believe they should be rewarded. God feels the same way toward people who, like Jesus Christ, perform sacrificial works for His glory.

3. When we suffer, we can be reminded of our future salvation.  

I think all of us have gone through times in our lives where we felt we could not be saved. We think, my sin is too great, or God is punishing me, or even God can’t dig me out of this hole. And we ask in the midst of our suffering, “Is there still hope?”

The answer is “Yes!” And we have to look at Jesus as our example.

Jesus Christ suffered more than anyone else in history. He had all of our sin upon him and all of God’s wrath fired at him. He said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And yet He was resurrected. Our suffering is temporary, but our resurrection will be eternal.

The author of Hebrews wants to encourage his readers in the midst of their suffering to stay strong and keep hope. He quotes an Old Testament prophecy about judgment of the wicked- those who turn away from God- and says, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls” (verse 39).

In other words, suffering will be ended. Jesus is coming back for those who have faith in Him. Suffering, while painful, forces us to say, “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!”

Suffering in America

Until Jesus Christ returns, there will always be suffering in every country. America is no exception. There will be Christians who, like the early Jewish Christians, have their possessions taken away, be put in jail, and possibly even executed. One of the great Satanic lies of today is “Don’t worry, it could never happen here. America can become a land of tolerance and peace.”

I’m not trying to sound pessimistic; on the contrary, when we read Scripture such as the tenth chapter of Hebrews, we find out that, if we choose so, suffering can bring about benefits. We can draw closer to God, be rewarded for our faith in a good God even when life is not good, and we can anticipate the return of Jesus and the restoration of all good things.

Perhaps Joseph said it best when he told his brothers who had sold him into slavery and caused him years of suffering:

“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”