Learn what it means to steward your suffering well in this program today.
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SHAUNA: This is Shauna, on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Now, Joni, you’re always sharing scriptures that help all of us learn how to deal with suffering well. And I know our listeners want to handle their hardships without caving into discouragement. So, do you have more to say on that? I mean, maybe more verses from God’s Word that would help?
JONI: I sure do, Shauna. And when we go through really hard times [maybe our listeners experiencing back pain that won’t let up, or someone is experiencing a serious financial or medical issue, or a big disappointment], our natural tendency is to worry or fret or even panic. We get frustrated and so we complain. We grumble against God or even doubt his goodness. That’s the way our human nature responds to things that are hard to bear. But it’s not the way God wants his children to respond. And so, when we find ourselves caving in to sinful attitudes or actions, the Bible verse to run to is 1 Corinthians 4:2. And this is what it says, “… it is required of stewards that they may be found faithful.” Now, you might think, what does being a steward have to do with suffering?! Well, people can steward all sorts of things. And one of those things is suffering. When God allows pain or some serious issue; when he calls you to bear hardship and affliction, he wants you to steward that pain well.
Now, over many years, I’ve learned in this wheelchair to handle it in such a way so that God looks good, that it sanctifies my heart, that it teaches me how to care and serve others. When you steward your suffering well, you are trusting in God’s sovereignty and embracing his purifying work on your character; to steward suffering well means to display to others that the grace of Jesus Christ really is sufficient for you. You’re stewarding your suffering well when, through it, you find great compassion for others who are struggling. And how do you maintain your hope through all this? Well, you cling to the hope of glory. You hope that one day you have the assurance that your problems will have earned you a glorious reward that doesn’t even begin to compare to your earthly pain.
Suffering well is not about denying your hardships; it’s about submitting that pain or that problem to God’s purposes and responding to it in faith. So much so that eventually your suffering becomes an instrument of worship. Like: “Oh, Lord, I asked you for help, for grace and what do you know, you’re giving it. You are sustaining me. Your grace is more than sufficient, and I praise you for that. Your power is being made perfect through my weakness. That is awesome. And you’re helping me to achieve an eternal glory that far outweighs the nagging presence of this paralysis. Oh God, you’re helping me to suffer well, just as your Son, my Savior did when he suffered on the cross for me. And I know all this gives you great glory. Oh, what a joy to be an instrument of worship to you. All because you’ve helped me suffer well. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”
SHAUNA: And friend, when you can pray like this – live like this, it takes your testimony and it pushes it over the top. If you can trust God when you’re in the middle of a deep affliction, absolutely nothing shows God to be more worthy of trust. Go to joniradio.org and download today’s transcript. It’s called “Stewarding Your Suffering.” And don’t forget that verse Joni shared. First Corinthians 4:2, “… it is required of stewards that they may be found faithful.” Are you suffering, grieving, or hurting? Well, steward that pain well. And Jesus will acclaim you as a good and faithful servant.
© Joni and Friends