‘Suffering is a subject that is not covered enough in churches’.

This is a saying I’ve heard often during my healing process. When one goes through a season of suffering, it often goes together with questions. These are often centred around the unfairness of the trials in comparison with the good deeds of a person. Suffering is a part of life, and I want to help you to get through seasons of suffering. 

The story of Paul in prison is an inspiring story. Paul was a man in the bible and known for preaching the gospel in every circumstance. His motivation was that he wanted to give himself fully to the purposes of Christ. He describes his life as follows: 

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

During his life, he was imprisoned and beaten multiple times. Although, he never did an act that actually deserved imprisonment. He even ended up in prison once  because of a lie that was told (Acts 21:28). He certainly did everything right, because he devoted his entire life to Christ. However, he endured immense suffering. 

Paul kept his focus on spreading the beautiful message of Jesus. During one of his imprisonments, in 66 B.C. , he wrote letters (2 Timothy 2:8–9). In an age where there was no such thing as a pen or pencil, one would not know where he found an object to write. However, he was determined to spread the message of Christ. 

Paul is an inspiration when we go through seasons of suffering. In the way in which he kept His eyes on Christ, our true price, during his multiple hardships. His love for God and His truth outweigh the suffering he had to endure. 

I want to invite you to seek intimacy with Jesus in your season of suffering. Where you will truly experience the beauty of an intimate relationship with Christ, that will help you to see your suffering in perspective. If you survive your suffering, then Christ will get the glory and if the suffering is so bad that your body decides to give up, you’ll be with Christ. 

But Paul said it better:  I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. – Philippians 1: 20-21