Remember when the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee and a storm struck? (Read Matthew 14.) The wind and waves began in the evening and continued all night long.

Meanwhile, Jesus was on a mountaintop praying, far away from the impending disaster. I’m convinced the disciples were praying for the storm to stop, or at least to be able to make it to the other side of the Sea and find safety on dry land. Jesus didn’t answer those prayers. Instead, He met them out on the Sea, walking on the water.

Why?

This age-old question has kept millions at an arms-length away from their Creator. Why does human suffering occur and why does God not stop it? When we are going through trials and tribulations, we can hang our hats on this truth: God has a divine purpose in the pain. Our job is to trust Him through it and wait to see the spiritual fruit that accompanies it in the future.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

God has not promised us an easy life. Far from it! He has promised His children that he will be with us through those trials. Jesus meets us in the middle of the storm to build our faith and to teach us to worship Him in truth and spirit.

Suffering produces a reliance on God in the heart of the faithful. Suffering pushes others further from the Lord when their souls are unfaithful and bitter. In essence, tough times separate the wheat from the chaff. As we grow spiritually, God begins to show us His power and comfort as we go through the curve balls in life.

The comfort we receive from Him can be used to bring people into the Kingdom of God. When non-believers experience trouble, it’s the perfect opportunity for the believer to comfort them, love them, and understand them. When we show others God’s love through our lives, they will be prodded to consider Jesus as their own Lord and Savior.

We live on a fallen planet where sin and suffering is the natural order of things. Suffering will continue until sin disappears; and that will not happen until the Second Coming of our Lord.

Notice some key words in the verse 5: abundantly and abounds. The word abounds comes from the Latin word abundāre, meaning to overflow. Imagine a river after a rainstorm. The water overflows its banks because it cannot be contained. There’s too much water! In the same way, God provides a mechanism through the power of the Holy Spirit to bring an overflowing amount of comfort when times turn difficult.

That comfort is available in very large quantities when we humble ourselves before the Lord. This builds our faith and helps us shine a brighter light into a darkened world. One of the greatest evangelism tools we have is our testimony. Every powerful testimony contains copious examples of God’s grace and comfort when the wind threatens to tear us down. Seek God’s comfort today. You will not only be helping yourself, but you will also be providing a wonderful weapon for your Lord to use to see others come into His glorious kingdom.

Suffering is nothing new, it has been going on for years, but oftentimes what makes the difference with suffering is how you suffer and who you suffer with. If you suffer alone, you will be broke, busted, disgusted and fed up, but if you turn to and invite Jesus in your sufferings, Your brokeness will be fixed, Jesus will uplift you, he will mend your wounds and He will show you plans to help you deal with your sufferings.

Be not afraid anymore, and don’t sweat the small stuff that might be cropping up as you go through your sufferings, Let Jesus help. Don’t be pushed to the brink of insanity by your sufferings, tag up with Jesus so you can get up, partner with Jesus so you can get through, invite Jesus in your suffering so that He can show you how to thrive in your sufferings and not just survive. Life is still worth living, and God is still good, just because things have gotten a ‘little” crazy this year, it’s no reason for you to go crazy with it, escape the maze, ditch out of the ditch of despair, let Jesus HELP.

-Jon Cash

DO YOU NEED SOME HELP OUT OF CRAP YOU BEEN DEALING WITH?

Repeat this short prayer, Dear Jesus, I am a sinner in need of your saving grace, I am unable to save my self, I invite you to come in my life and become my personal Lord and Savior, take control, meet me in my sufferings, fix me, help me, show me a plan Jesus, I am tired, and I need some help and I need it right now, Jesus, please help me, come quickly and help me, let me touch the hem of your garments so that I can get my issues fixed, I need YOU Jesus, and I need you right now and in return Jesus, I promise to follow you, serve you and lead others to you it is in your name I ask and pray, amen!

P.S. After you repeat this prayer, pray, watch and wait, allow Jesus to set the timing of how He might wanna address your sufferings, how He might wanna lead you in your sufferings and how He might wanna help you in your sufferings. Get excited, because Jesus loves you and He still has great plans for your life, and joy will come for you again eventually because you turned to and invited Jesus in your sufferings!  –

Evangelist Wendy Evans