Suffering Brings Glory

God lives and works today. His eyes look down upon each one of His children. Nothing in our lives is hidden to Him.

Nothing happens that He does not allow according to His wise fatherly will. God has an eternal goal for us. Listen to the following meditation by Basilia Schlink.

Almost nothing is more important than our attitude towards suffering, towards the cross in our lives. Why? It's our attitude towards the cross, if it's the right attitude, that will help us to bear our suffering more easily and to be comforted. In addition, our life in eternity hinges upon our attitude towards the cross and the suffering we must bear in this life.

For our attitude creates a heaven or a hell on earth. And where we live on earth will determine our eternal dwelling place, too. It may also be that I've made every effort to escape from my suffering, even by becoming involved in serious sin.

However, none of our efforts can ever help us escape the difficulties and chastisements the Lord has put into our lives. For behind our difficulties is the hand of the living God, who is the judge and the ruler over the living and over the dead. It's utmost foolishness to try to push away the suffering He sends us, because He's love and only has our best interests at heart.

Therefore, the consequences of trying to escape suffering are very great. I praise their blessing, their birth confessing the paths of pain and darkest night. God's will is goodness and loving-kindness, and good their ways He leads us on.

To suffer in the right way means to accept our cross, praising and giving thanks for it. God in His grace is chastening us and preparing us for eternity. One day we must all face death in the judgment seat of God.

However, in Romans 8, 17 we read that if we suffer with Christ, we will also share His glory. That's incomprehensible. Crowns and thrones and glory are awaiting those who come out of tribulation, who have overcome.

They are the ones who have learned the lessons of the cross and suffering. What grace God has poured out upon our lives through these trials! From the very beginning, God planned that the cross and pain should bring His grace and glory. And because He is love, this grace and glory can be ours in eternity, and already here on earth, too.

I'll suffer gladly if that prepares me for endless glorious life above. Still priceless suffering, sinners transforming for everlasting life with Christ. You have been listening to a program written by Basilia Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan.

To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website www.canaan.org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85028-4099. God bless you.