SUFFERING: PAIN HELPS US FIND OUR GREATEST HAPPINESS IN GOD
August 25, 2013
Todd Chapman
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV: [7] So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God’s design for suffering is that it would increase our happiness
- Suffering hurts, a lot.
- Suffering provides us the best opportunity to assess our faith.
- Suffering provides us the best opportunity to increase our faith.
- Suffering provides us a remarkable opportunity to display to the others the happiness we find in Jesus.