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Purpose

Purpose

Does God’s purpose include suffering?

We know that God wants us to permeate His love and radiate His light. We know that God wants us to be holy because He is holy. However, we don’t normally get as excited about the thought of suffering.

“But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.'” Acts 9:15-16 (NIV)

God’s purpose for Paul included suffering. His life was marked by the road of adversity. In his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul articulated his path of suffering.

“…I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” 2 Cor 11:23-28 (NIV)

Are you in a season of suffering? Are you facing a difficult situation? Could God’s purpose for your life include suffering? Nothing catches God by surprise. If God allows something to come into your life, His purpose will prevail. God has the final say.

Let me encourage you to make room in your life for mystery. Trust God with the circumstances in your life that just don’t make sense.

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

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