Rejoicing in our Sufferings

January 05, 2022

Rejoicing in our Sufferings

In Acts 2, Peter says that when Jesus was on the cross, He was rejoicing:

I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. (Acts 2:25,26 NIV)

How do you rejoice on the cross?

It seems that Paul knew the same secret:

I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV)

Paul was

beaten with rods,
flogged with whips
stoned and left for dead
starved, thrown in jail and put in chains

But he says, ‘I delight in all those things – I’ll rejoice and boast in all those things.

But why? Why would anyone in his right mind delight and rejoice while being stoned and flogged?

Because God had taught Paul a secret: when we are weak, God’s power in us is made stronger!!!

In the letter to the Philippians, which Paul wrote from jail, he advises us not to be frightened by those who are hurting us (1:28). He also mentions rejoicing multiple times. What did he rejoice about exactly?

that because of his chains Christ was being preached (1:18)
that he could do all things through him who gives us strength (4:13)
that God would meet all his needs according to His glorious riches (4:19)
that this situation would turn out for his deliverance (1:19)

He was in jail, rejoicing, because he knew that by doing so, God's power would be made stronger in him. It wasn't the first time he rejoiced in chains.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas had just been flogged and thrown into prison where their feet were chained. They chose to respond by singing and praising God. And then the earthquake came and they were supernaturally set free.

Deuteronomy 28:47 explains that people sometimes find themselves surrounded by curses because they forget to rejoice:

Because thou servedst not the Lord they God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things (KJV)

Since this is so, we can reason that the way to receive the blessings would be to rejoice in the abundance of all things – even the unseen blessings of God.

It's just like Paul said; in the midst of your sufferings, choose to rejoice.

Granted, the thicker the darkness around us becomes, the harder it is for us to rejoice in the unseen blessings.

But that is the place, apparently, where God’s power is perfected in us. If we choose to rejoice.

2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us that our “light affliction … worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (KJV).

In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us to "rejoice and be exceedingly glad when people persecute you, revile you, and say all kinds of evil things about you because great is your reward in Heaven."

In 1 Peter 4, Peter tells us that when we suffer and are insulted, the Spirit of Glory – the Spirit of God Himself, rests on you!!!

Romans 8:17 says that if we share in Christ's sufferings we also will share in His glory.

Your suffering is the place where God's power in perfected. In your sufferings, rejoice!!

You are blessed!!

God’s power in you is getting stronger!!

You are getting more rewards in Heaven!!!

Rise over it all – break through all the anger, the fear, the sadness, the despair, and rejoice!

Rejoice!! Rejoice!! Rejoice!!

Paul says that rejoicing is a safeguard for us:

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1 NIV)

Rejoicing is a safeguard for us! It keeps us from losing our minds! It keeps us from falling off the track! And most importantly, it releases power and blessings into our lives!

Rejoicing – in our minds and in our words – is the germination process, where the dead seed, that invisible blessing, springs to life and becomes manifest. Don’t let anyone steal or sabotage what goes on in your mind!!

In my first year of teaching preschool, I was failing miserably. I couldn't keep control of the classroom. I had a handful of misbehaved kids who constantly disrupted the class, refused to listen, or worst of all, hurt the other children. It was embarrassing and incredibly frustrating. I asked advice from seasoned teachers and read every article and book I could find, but nothing helped. At Christmas break, I knew I had to make a change. That's when I remembered the secret of rejoicing.

When school started up again, I purposed to do three things during my half hour morning commute. I would lift up the Name of Jesus, just lift up His Name and praise Him. Then I'd speak in tongues for about 10 minutes. Then, I'd start to rejoice, in past tense. I'd say something along these lines... "Jesus, I want to praise you because today was an amazing day. I had authority over my classroom today. The kids listened to me, and they were calm, happy, and well behaved. Nobody got hurt on the playground today. Everybody got along very well today. I praise you for the tremendous control I had today. It was a highly blessed and successful day."

I promise you I didn't do anything differently in the classroom, but the change was obvious and immediate. Other teachers commented on it. They'd say things like, "well, it looks like you finally got control of your classroom."

At my end of year performance evaluation, the director asked me how it happened. She wondered what I had done to change so abruptly. I told her about my commuting routine, and how it was literally the only thing I had done differently. And, I told her that every once in awhile, I'd have a crazy day, lots of fighting and chaos, and I'd suddenly remember that I had forgotten to rejoice on my way to work that day.

I want to add a quick thought here...

Don’t stay in a difficult situation if you don’t have to. If you can get away from a person or situation that causes you to suffer, get away!!!

Paul told slaves that if they could gain their freedom, then do so. (See 1 Corinthians 7:21)
He also made it clear that he was a Roman citizen to avoid a flogging. (see Acts 22)
Even Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross. “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39 NIV)

So don’t suffer if you don’t have to!

Unfortunately, as much as we try to avoid it, there are going to be times when we simply cannot get away from difficult people or situations. In those times, remember to focus on a few applicable promises, and rejoice.

And I will give thee treasures of darkness, hidden riches of secret places. (Isaiah 45:3 KJV)

Repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9 NIV)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor. 12:9 NIV)

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:14 NIV)

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV)

Now 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. (Romans 8:17 NIV)

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 NIV)

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andreacarole

Rejoicing in our Sufferings

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