Finding Inner Strength in Suffering: God's Grace in the Midst of Trials

In the journey of life, we all face various challenges and hardships. These trials often test the strength of our hearts and can leave us feeling weary and exhausted. But as followers of Christ, we are called to find inner strength in the midst of suffering and affliction. The Bible tells us that through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). This means that suffering is an inevitable part of our journey towards heaven.

The need for inner strength arises not just from the depletions of everyday stress, but from the suffering and afflictions that come from time to time. And they do come. Life is filled with unexpected trials and difficulties that can shake our faith and make us question the narrow path that leads to life. It's hard enough to have a narrow road and steep hills that test the old jalopy's strength to the limit. But what shall we do when the car breaks down?

In moments of affliction, it is natural for us to cry out to God for relief. We may ask Him to remove the thorns in our flesh or to deliver us from our suffering. But sometimes, God's grace does not come in the form we expect. Instead of removing our afflictions, He offers us His sustaining power in the midst of them. This is a different kind of grace - one given within the circle of another grace denied.

The apostle Paul experienced this firsthand. He had a thorn in the flesh, and he cried out to God three times, asking for relief. But instead of removing the thorn, God said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). In other words, God's grace came in the form of His sustaining power in unrelieved affliction. And Paul responded with faith in the sufficiency of this future grace, saying, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

This is a powerful lesson for us. God often blesses us with a "grace given" in the circle of "grace denied." He knows what is best for us, and sometimes what is best for us is to experience His power in the midst of our suffering. It is in these moments of weakness that His strength is made perfect.

Let me share a personal story to illustrate this point. One hot day in July, our car broke down in the middle of nowhere. We were stranded on the interstate in Tennessee, twenty miles away from the nearest town. We had prayed that morning for a trouble-free trip, but now our car had died. The grace of trouble-free travel had been denied.

As we stood around our car, no one stopped to help. We felt helpless and desperate. But then, my son Abraham, who was about eleven at the time, said, "Daddy, we should pray." So we bowed behind the car and asked God for His help in our time of need. We prayed for a future grace - a way out of our current situation.

And when we looked up, a pickup truck had pulled over. The driver was a mechanic who worked about twenty miles away. He said he would be willing to go get the parts and come back to fix our car. I rode with him to town, and during the ride, I was able to share the gospel with him. In about five hours, we were back on the road again.

Now, the remarkable thing about this answer to our prayer is that it came inside the circle of a prayer denied. We had asked for a trouble-free trip, but God gave us trouble. Yet, in the midst of a grace denied, we received a grace supplied. And through this experience, I learned to trust God's wisdom in giving the grace that is best for me and for others.

This story reminds me of the biblical account of Joseph. He endured many trials and sufferings, including being sold into slavery by his own brothers and being falsely accused and imprisoned. But through it all, God was with him, and He used Joseph's suffering for a greater purpose. Joseph later said to his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). God's grace was at work even in the midst of Joseph's suffering.

In the Bible, we find numerous examples of God's grace given in the midst of suffering. The book of Job tells the story of a man who lost everything - his family, his wealth, and his health. Yet, in the end, God restored Job and blessed him even more than before. The Psalms are filled with cries for help in times of trouble, and they also express confidence in God's faithfulness and goodness.

Jesus Himself experienced great suffering and affliction. He was mocked, beaten, and crucified on a cross. But through His suffering, He accomplished the greatest act of grace in history - the redemption of humanity. Jesus' death and resurrection provided the way for us to be reconciled to God and receive the gift of eternal life.

As followers of Christ, we are called to take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). This means that we will face trials and tribulations in this life. But we can find strength and hope in knowing that God's grace is sufficient for us. He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and He promises to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

In conclusion, the journey of life is filled with challenges and hardships. We will face tribulations and sufferings along the way. But as followers of Christ, we can find inner strength in the midst of our trials. God's grace is sufficient for us, and He gives us His sustaining power in the midst of our suffering. Like the apostle Paul, we can boast in our weaknesses, knowing that it is in our weaknesses that Christ's power is made perfect.

Let us trust in God's wisdom and goodness, even when His grace comes in unexpected ways. He knows what is best for us, and He will never leave us or forsake us. May we find comfort and hope in His promises, and may we be a witness to others of His grace and love.