Why is it Always Me?

I once heard an evangelist say that from as far back in her life as she could remember, she always felt like an outcast.  She felt like she never fit in anywhere, not even at home.

I’ve heard more than one preacher talk about how they came out of an abusive childhood.

We know that David’s life, before he became king, wasn’t easy.  Neither was Joseph’s, or Paul’s, or Stephen’s, or John’s.  They suffered, as did many other bible heroes.

Is all this suffering simply a coincidence, or is there a reason for it?

Romans 8:17 tells us that we can share in Jesus’s glory if we also share in his sufferings. (NIV)

Is this saying that if we want to share in His glory, (i.e., healing the sick, raising the dead, saving the lost. . .), we’re going to have to suffer?

Why would this be so?

When Jesus healed, He was motivated by compassion:

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  (Matthew 14:14 NIV)

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.  (Matthew 20:34 NIV)

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.  (Mark 1:41 KJV)

We know that people who endure suffering come out of it one of two ways – either hardened and bitter, or extremely empathetic and compassionate toward others.

Could it be that the people who come out of suffering with great compassion are better equipped to handle His glory?

… it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV)

Does God cause our suffering?  Absolutely not!!

But God, the great Redeemer, redeems our suffering.  He turns ashes into beauty.

The devil brings suffering on us in an attempt to destroy us.  God converts the suffering into a glorious weapon with which we will turn against the devil to destroy his works. 

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  (Genesis 50:20 KJV)

 

See also "Rejoicing in our Sufferings"

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV  Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.  Used by permission of Zondervan.  All rights reserved worldwide.www.zondervan.com.  The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.