17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:17 – 18)
6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6 – 7)
12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12 – 13)
We have provided three separate passages of scripture today to emphasize a very important relationship – the relationship between God’s glory and suffering. Please read the passages above carefully and note the relationship between God’s glory and suffering in each passage. What does this mean for our prayer life? Suffering comes in too many stripes for anyone to offer a singular prescriptive prayer. However, we need to recognize our natural inclination to avoid suffering, and ask God to help us see suffering in the context of His glory.
Questions
- Do you struggle with praying about suffering?
- How are your prayers impacted by the realization that God uses suffering for His glory?
March 19, 2019 at 7:14 am
Prayer helps me to endure the struggle and pain of suffering. It gives me hope and often relief, from the difficulties associated with suffering. The more I pray and study His Word, the better I feel.
March 19, 2019 at 9:12 am
Sometimes when I’m really experiencing difficulty or challenges in life, it can be very hard to express all that I want to say to the Lord in prayer. But I do believe He can see my heart. Sometimes I just cry to him everything and ask him to help me, or remove the pain, or the anxiety, or any negative feeling brought by suffering. I think it helps a lot for me to remember Jesus’s suffering and death on the cross, and victory in ressurection. That way, I can say to myself that my own suffering is nothing, compared to what Jesus had been through to save me and give me the life that God wants me to have. My salvation is enough for me to remain vigilant and be full of hope especially during difficult times. When I look back on how I was able to overcome my struggles in the past, I cannot help but feel so privileged that I have a loving , gracious God who is always with me no matter what happens. If we can praise God even in times of sadness, or difficulties, then the more we can understand God’s glory. His grace is sufficient for us amd the joy and peace of the Lord is in us, because of God’s glory,we can live a victorious life.
March 19, 2019 at 11:36 am
This is something that I need to think about more. My first reaction is to say that, recognizing God’s glory, there is a level of peace that eases whatever tough time I’m dealing with because I know that pain is temporary. I know that eventually, God’s glory will shine through on that situation.
March 19, 2019 at 11:49 am
Like TJC , its something to think about some more. I have to say I do not pray and ask for extra suffering that God’s glory may be shown nor am i usually with a grateful posture in my suffering.
These passages and questions, beckon me to re adjust my mindset and acknowledge God’s plan and purpose in my suffering more , and rather than always quickly asking for the suffering to be removed, to actually ask for him in prayer to be glorified in and through it….
March 19, 2019 at 11:51 am
As the Lord allowed me to go through suffering I have seen whereby it caused me to focus on the important things namely his glory. It causes me to depend on God in ways that I would not normally have. It is not an easy process but a rewarding one over time. It has caused my prayer to have a deeper meaning because of the perspective that suffering brings about with respect to God’s glory and the correlation between the two.
March 19, 2019 at 12:03 pm
I struggle with suffering but not praying about it. I have no where else to go or no one else to go to. I find myself praying that God would make me attentive to the lesson(s) I’m to learn from the struggle He has allowed. The most unfortunate thing would be to go through the struggle/trial and miss the lesson and have to go through it again.
March 19, 2019 at 5:15 pm
I find the 2nd bullet point interesting. I sometimes hear old (dead) preachers that I have listened to , ask God to prune them – cut deep – which of course will make them suffer – so they can become better servants to Him. Hearing this, part alarmed and upset me because it makes me wonder – how and where do you get to a place where you surrender yourself to God to do whatever is necessary to glorify himself in you – including pain and suffering.
March 19, 2019 at 8:13 pm
I dont struggle with praying about suffering. Suffering makes me realize how much I need to depend on & trust God. How much I need to always keep close to Him, praying & reading the bible; how much I need to know & to do His will.
However I am bewildered by suffering. Why do many have to suffer the pains of war, injustice, discrimination, greed & famine. Why are missionaries killed when teaching others about God?
I pray for wisdom in understanding, in not having doubts about God’s love; in not being enveloped in deep sadness when thinking of the suffering in the world.
Job always comes to mind when I think of suffering.
The following is from ‘Desiring God’
‘ He laments the injustice that God lets wicked people prosper while he and countless other innocent people suffer. Job wants to confront God and complain, but he cannot physically find God to do it. He feels that wisdom is hidden from human minds, but he resolves to persist in pursuing wisdom by fearing God and avoiding evil’.