Lesson 5: God has a purpose for what you're going through

It's easy to feel like God is causing you to suffer through something that appears to be ruining your life. I used to feel this way about depression because I didn't fully understand what was happening to me. It took me about a year of studying to figure out what exactly it means for God to use our suffering for His glory.

God doesn't give us pain or suffering. That all comes from the enemy of our souls, the one trying to yank us out of God's hands, out of His almighty plan. What God does is takes everything we experience, good and bad, and works it into a plan we can't imagine or understand to ultimately bring Him glory. In the process, we get to discover what it feels like to be used by God and live in His freedom. The purpose of any one of us being on this earth is to live life as an example of God's grace to bring more people into His Kingdom.

I've finally started to see how God intends to use my suffering for His purpose. After sharing my testimony both on my blog and at the InterVarsity Large Group meeting, I faced both a lot of opposition from the enemy and a lot of encouragement by the responses from other people. Some people gave me encouragement to keep pressing on in my own journey, but others took the time to share their stories with me and I've been able to encourage them and help them find the resources they need. This has been so fulfilling and confirms even more to me that what I plan to do for a career is exactly what God intends.

To those of you experiencing suffering, I would encourage you to focus not on the suffering, but on the good things that can come of it. Remember what Romans 5:3-4 says: "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

I'll Leave You With This

If I could leave you with the one thing that has been the most influential thing in my life, the thing that has carried me through every storm and calm place, the thing that has proven its endless faithfulness, it would be this: to know, to love, and to rely on the One true God with everything that you are and all that you have. Let Him be your strength, your joy, your health, and your only desire.

Know what it is that He has taught you and remain firm and confident in that, knowing that you are guaranteed to face tribulations and persecution. But know, also, that the Lord is your strength and will guard what He has entrusted to you. Let the truth always dwell in your heart and do not be ashamed of it. Instead, proclaim it boldly, having confidence in the truth and love you’ve experienced in Him. Be ever-ready to give an answer for your faith, to correct or advise in love, and to build others up with the Word of Truth.

Know that there will be people, probably some of your own friends, that decide to turn and go an easier way; but I encourage you to find strength in the Lord and to stand in Him until it is your day to receive your eternal reward. When you remain in Him with your desires being all His desires, you will become pure and honorable in His eyes and He can prepare you to do anything He needs from you. I encourage you to spend time in His word and with Him so that you can be transformed and consumed by his truth and peace and love.

No matter what you do or what you have to give up in life, never let your relationship with God be something you sacrifice. Let your life be a reflection of everything that He is so that your life brings glory to Him alone. Be a servant, be a friend, be a light that others can follow to lead them out of darkness. Do the work of an evangelist, focusing on leading by example and showing the love of Christ. In all things, know God and make Him known to others.

Key Verses:
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.     2 Corinthians 3:5
Entire phrases from 2 Timothy are used in this post. I recommend that you take the time to study out the entire book. 2 Timothy (NIV)