Paul’s Response to Suffering

Steve Baker and his wife Kathey were Bible translators in Liberia. They worked hard to translate the Bible for eight years. When war broke out in Liberia, they were forced to leave the mission field leaving all their valuables. Their cultural and language learning came to an abrupt end without any hope for the translation of the Bible. Their language learning for eight years seemed to be a waste. When someone asked Steve about the loss, Steve replied, “We lost everything we owned, and that was painful. But leaving behind the Liberians we had worked with, and sensing that our evangelistic plans were crushed, we cried from a deeper heart. We returned to the United States distressed and in shock.” This was an unexpected set back in the ministry of Steve and Kathey. But Steve’s response to the loss of materials and ministry was a challenge to us. He wrote later about this setback, “Personal ministry loss should not permanently cripple God’s servants. The Lord’s desire is that we sprint forward to new goals. From tears to triumph, by grace we moved through grief to offer our lives again to Him.” Steve responded rightly to loss in his life and ministry. What is our response to suffering when we face problems in our ministry and in our personal life? Let us study the response of Paul to sufferings and trials to learn from his life.

1. Paul took Pleasure in Persecution: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor. 12:10).

2. Paul was exceedingly joyful in Tribulations: “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus”(2 Cot. 7:4-6).

3. Paul gloried in Tribulations: “And· not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:3-5).

4. For Paul the present Suffering was negligible when compared to the Future Glory: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed· in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Rom. 8: 18-19).

5. Paul endured Persecution Patiently: “And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the off scouring of all things until now” ( 1Cor. 4: 12-13).

6. Paul believed that he was appointed to Suffer: “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me”· (Phil. 1 :29-30).

7. Suffering enabled Paul to know the fellowship of Christ’s Sufferings: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil. 3: 10-11).

8. For Paul the suffering helped to Console others: “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will ·partake of the consolation”(2 Cor. 1 :5-7).

9. Paul believed that we enter into kingdom of God through Tribulations: “Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

10. Paul taught that one should not be shaken by Afflictions: “That no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this” (1 Thess. 3:3). Thomas Hearne was a great explorer and a man of strong faith in the Lord. When he went on an exploration trip, thieves stole all his supplies. It was a great loss for him. But after he spent some time with the Lord, he said “The weight of our luggage being lightened our next day’s journey was more swift and pleasant.” Hearne, responded to the loss of his properties in a scriptural way. How do we respond to trials and tribulations in our lives?

(Dr. C. Barnabas, taken from True Discipleship, July-August 2006)