![\"pain\"](\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/pain.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI’ve been working on a document for a friend which examines the Scriptural perspective on suffering. I thought I’d share a few sections of it here…<\/p>\n
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No. In fact, it was through this that He achieved our redemption.<\/em><\/p>\n He was despised<\/span> and rejected<\/span> by mankind, a man of suffering<\/span>, and familiar with pain<\/span>. Like one from whom people hide their faces<\/span> he was despised<\/span>, and we held him in low esteem<\/span>.<\/em> – Isaiah 53:3-4<\/span><\/p>\n Son\u00a0though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered<\/span> and, once made perfect<\/span>,\u00a0he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him<\/em> \u2013 Hebrews 5:8-9<\/span><\/p>\n Yes. If the great Apostle was not exempt from tough times, why should we expect to be?<\/em><\/p>\n Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh<\/span>,\u00a0a messenger of Satan,\u00a0to torment me.<\/em> \u2013 2 Corinthians 12:7<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/sup>I know what it is to be in need<\/span>, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,\u00a0whether living in plenty or in want.\u00a0I can do all this through him who gives me strength.<\/em> – Philippians 4:12-13<\/span><\/p>\n Suffering in life is inevitable, particularly for one who tries to live the Christian life and to imitate Christ and become His disciple.<\/em><\/p>\n [Job\u2019s] wife said to him, \u201cAre you still maintaining your integrity?\u00a0Curse God and die!\u201d He replied, \u201cYou are talking like a foolishwoman.\u00a0Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 Job 2:9- 10<\/span><\/p>\n Dear friends, do not be surprised<\/span> at the fiery ordeal that has come on you\u00a0to test you, as though something strange<\/span> were happening to you.<\/em> \u2013 1 Peter 4:12<\/span><\/p>\n In fact, everyone<\/span> who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be<\/span> persecuted<\/em> \u2013 2 Timothy 3:12<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.\u00a0In this world you will have trouble<\/span>.\u00a0But take heart! I have overcome\u00a0the world.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Jon 16:33<\/span><\/p>\n Join with me<\/span> in suffering,\u00a0like a good soldier<\/span>\u00a0of Christ Jesus.<\/em> \u2013 2 Timothy 2:3<\/span><\/p>\n Then [Paul and Banabas] returned to Lystra, Iconium\u00a0and Antioch,\u00a0strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.\u00a0\u201cWe must go through many hardships\u00a0to enter the kingdom of God<\/span>,\u201d they said.<\/em> \u00a0–\u00a0Acts 14:21-22<\/span><\/p>\n To this\u00a0you were called,\u00a0because Christ suffered for you,\u00a0leaving you an example that you should follow<\/span> in his steps.<\/em> \u2013 1 Peter 2:21<\/span><\/p>\n Then he said to them all:\u00a0\u201cWhoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves<\/span> and take up their cross daily<\/span> and follow me.\u00a0For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life<\/span> for me will save it.”<\/em> – Luke 9:22-23<\/span><\/p>\n If the world hates you,\u00a0keep in mind that it hated me first<\/span>.\u00a0If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world<\/span>, but I have chosen you\u00a0out of the world. That is why the world hates you<\/span><\/em> – John 15:17-19<\/span><\/p>\n Tomorrow I’ll post extracts from sections of the Bible which give us some idea as to the purpose<\/em> which suffering can serve…<\/p>\n Part 1 | Part 2<\/a> | Part 3<\/a> | Part 4<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I’ve been working on a document for a friend which examines the Scriptural perspective on suffering. I thought I’d share a few sections of it here…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[302,2969,859,136,927,2615,1520],"class_list":["post-14027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith","tag-bible","tag-featured","tag-pain","tag-scripture","tag-suffering","tag-suffering-series","tag-trial"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14027"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45547,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14027\/revisions\/45547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Did St. Paul endure hardship?<\/h2>\n
Is trial and suffering inevitable?<\/h2>\n