Suffering

Many try to avoid Suffering.
It's Painful, inconvenient, Unpleasant, and to be Avoided at all cost.
 
And yet, Suffering is an undeniable Fact of Life. It is the Human Experience.
 
Everyone goes through Suffering. But, in Christ, we Suffer with Purpose. We are tried, tested, refined, purified, disciplined. 
 
What is the Purpose? This Suffering? 
 
The Apostle Peter eloquently shares:                                                                  
 “The same experiences of Suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters, throughout the world. You do not Suffer alone.”   1 Peter 5:10
 
Then, he writes, 
"After you have Suffered a little while,
the God of all Grace (Who imparts His Blessing and Favor), Who called you to His own Eternal Glory in Christ, will Himself

• Make you perfect= Complete His Work in you
• Establish you = Make you to Stand on an Unshakable Foundation (Truth)
• Strengthen you- So that you do not Give in, Give up or Give out. 
  
  The Apostle Paul says, “…I pray that you may be Strengthened with Might by His Spirit in the inner Man.”     Ephesians 3:16
  
  
• Settle you =Cover you with the Mantle of Peace, God's Peace, that passes all Understand that will Protect, Guard, and Keep your Hearts (emotions) and Minds (thoughts) in Christ Jesus.                                                                     Philippians 4:7                                 

 
I am Pastor Carl Tedford, with Thoughts to Ponder.