3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
If we, as believers, are not becoming stronger in Godly character, having a greater value to the Kingdom, it is likely we have not yet graduated from the school of suffering. The entrance exam to this school is to fully engage the world as a child of God, not simply a weekend Christian.
We will only truly know what we experience. For example: You can tell a small child all day long that the stove is hot, and that they should not touch it, but they will only know the stove is hot after touching the hot stove.
Likewise, we can be told many things to guide us through this life, but those things are merely theories until we experience the issue. We will not know the depths of the pain of loss, any loss, until we lose something or someone near to our heart.
It is through the experiences of suffering, we become changed, to never be quite the same again. However, the changes will relate to our reactions to the struggles. We will become stronger, or we will become weaker. We become more joy-filled in His watch care, or we will become bitter and angry assuming He has failed us by not rescuing us from the time of suffering.
Paul worked through to understanding these deeper truths. Here is how it is recorded for us in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
David saw through this glory long before Paul. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
The glorious truth in this verse for David, for Paul, for we, the faithful followers of Christ, comes from the power of the word “through”. Whatever we face, even death itself, God will see us through to the other side of it all. We are destined for glory regardless. “My brethren, count it all joy!”
Jesus made it clear, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:28-33)
My brethren, count the cost; count it all joy!