We will all experience pain, suffering, misery, hardship and problems. Regardless of our age, education or socio-economic status, we will all experience human suffering. The particular issues of our suffering will differ, but there is no escape from the suffering itself. And, we must stand in the difficult circumstances and face them with a smile because suffering in life, tests and trials, teach us to endure, and they also help us to know how to help others as they live in their true suffering meaning. As we endure our own suffering, joyfully, we will overcome the difficulties, to some extent.
Now the question arises why do we suffer?
Why do we live and stay in those sufferings?
What is meant by human sufferings?
Often, our suffering is self-made, our human sufferings – we create, develop and give birth to our own anguish. The root of our suffering may stem from wrong past decisions, insufficient or incomplete planning, or maybe the delayed action of not striking when the iron is hot. Or, perhaps human suffering is a result of making decisions without considering the wise counsel of those who are older than we are and therefore proving that we believe our own thoughts and behavior are best…that we are always right.
This world is the home of suffering. No one can claim that he is free from any type from suffering, from painful, bitter, past memories and the internal subjective injuries and wounding that they have inflicted. From birth, from the very lap of his or her mother, and then to the grave, man is continuously facing the woes of the world until the day when he enters into the eternal abode.
There are those among us who are woven or connected to past failure, misery and pain, as though they are one, which on one can set apart. There seems to be no way that they will become separated from their negative circumstances, situations and negativity and when this happens these elements determine the course of their lives.
We are all human beings and we all fall into hardship and difficulties. We try to come out of them, and to forget them, yet sometimes doing so is not within our control. Indeed, without a doubt, this is a part of both human nature and psyche.
When we allow a particular sorrow or tragedy to impact our personality in a negative way, then unconsciously these negative effects impact us by deepening our suffering and causing every tragedy or pain to bring more and more negative effects.
When we continually complain about our suffering, the effects of our negative thoughts badly influence our physical, emotional and spiritual health as poisonous chemicals are subsequently released within our human bodies. As a result, there are some people who suffer from cardiac disorders, some from mental or emotional disorders, and then some from physical ailments such as arthritis, diabetes or issues of the stomach. These types of problems search for human prey, and they find them, easily.
All of which brings about another question in our minds.
Why doesn’t God take our suffering from us?
Why does he allow suffering to come upon us?
If our God is all powerful and almighty, then why does He allow us to remain in our suffering?
The basic, fundamental and the most important answer to these questions is…sin, and the fact that because of sin, the earth is under a curse, and also everything on the face of the earth face is under the effect of a curse.
Likewise, all pain, problems, negative circumstances, difficult situations, tears, weeping and tensions are the bitter fruit of the same sin, and consequently, the same and curse. God allows these sufferings to come upon us only to the extent that we may bear. If this is not so, then we would have been destroyed long ago.
“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”
Lam 3:22 KJV
“They arenew every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Lam 3:23 KJV
Yes, indeed God controls and stops my suffering according to His divine will and in proportion to my endurance, or He lessens their intensity. Not one of us likes to go through these sufferings, nor does anyone welcome them. But remember that suffering is an integral part of life, it is essential. And also remember, if we do not have suffering in our lives then our joy will become just part of our normal, routine life.
Dearly beloved, as these sufferings come and go, it is critical that we come up out of our distress, otherwise we have to face very serious spiritual, emotional and physical consequences.
In order to overcome our sufferings and to come up out of them the following points will be useful:
1) Analyze your negative circumstances, your pains, sufferings and issues
Examine all of the situations and circumstances in a very realistic manner. We should not ignore our situations; we should not close our eyes to reality. Also, as we analyze the situation, look into the details in order to discover where we were wrong, and why we are now facing serious consequences.
2) Find out the solution of these issues
Investigate different positive ways of thinking, consult good friends, listen to the advice of the elderly people, and get guidance from the Holy Bible.
3) Face the circumstances very boldly
Whatever the circumstances may be, never give up, do not loose heart but face the challenge with courage and boldness and try to overcome these challenges. Keep on advancing while you are in difficult situation.
4) Do not blame others
Accept your wrong doings and your failures. Do not blame others. Develop boldness and courage in your inner self in order to see where you have failed, and then accept it.
5) Do not allow your sufferings and problem to rule over you
On the Sermon on the Mount, Lord Jesus Christ said:
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Matthew 6:34 KJV
6) Maintain your social contacts
Meet and interact with your good friends and spend time with them in a positive and constructive way. Our sincere Christian friends are also a blessing for us.
“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”
Proverbs 27:9 KJV
7) Help others
Helping others, those who are suffering and in pain, is a very good method that can help us come out of our own suffering and will have a very positive affect on our spiritual, psychological and physical health.
8) Focus upon the less privileged
Look unto those who belong to the lower segment of society. Do not think so highly of yourself; take care of the weak and the poor. If you minister to them, you will personally feel very comfortable.
9) Identify with the sufferings of others
Think for a moment, if I was in this situation then what would my situation be? How would I feel? Identify with the pain and suffering of others and take them as your own. Walk in the shoes of someone else and feel exactly where it bites.
10) Continuously stay in the Christian fellowship
You can avoid many issues when you stay in a Christian fellowship.
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Act 2:42 KJV
11) Always give thanks unto the Lord.
At all times and in all situations give thanks unto the Lord for all his gifts and blessings.
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1Th 5:18 KJV
12) Focus on the positive
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Php 4:8 KJV
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
Proverbs 16:24 KJV
13) Rejoice always.
Be joyful always.
“Rejoice evermore.”
1Th 5:16 KJV
A Cheerful heart is good medicine.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 KJV
14) Act Positively
“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Php 4:9 KJV
Imitate those who are worthy of imitation.
15) Continue in prayer.
“Pray without ceasing.”
1Th 5:17 KJV
16) Always look for God’s Grace
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2Co 12:9 KJV
17) The smiling face is a healthy face
The smiling face is the symbol of health.
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
Proverbs 15:13 KJV
18) Be Content
Whatever you are? Wherever God has kept you? Please do not compare yourself to others.
“A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.”
Proverbs 14:30 KJV
19) Leave your past behind
Leave your sad past behind you. Keep moving; continue your journey toward your future. Saint Paul said:
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”
Php 3:13 KJV
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Php 3:14 KJV
A hopeless person spends his life in the past, an anxious and restless person lives in future, while a content person enjoys his present.
20) Please remember the invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 KJV
Dearly beloved, ask from the Lord and work on your issues and come out of your sufferings.
Blessings
