Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Suffering is a topic that a lot of people don't like to talk about. Because if we're honest, I would rather hear a message on how to be hopeful, or how to defeat your anxiety, or how to stay encouraged. I'd rather hear that message. But the truth is, we live in a world that's filled with suffering. In fact, I would take it so far as to say that to be a human being is to suffer. Jesus told us that in John chapter 16, verse 33 that in this world we will have trouble. It's a promise. Paul is speaking to us and reminding us that the suffering that we're in is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.
What Is the Glory?
What's the glory? The glory is that one day there will be no more pain. There will be no more tears. We're going to have perfect intimacy with Jesus Christ. There's coming a day where we're going to have glorified bodies. We're not going to get sick. We're going to spend eternity with Jesus Christ. He's reminding us—don't forget that that day is coming.
Now, you might be listening and thinking, yeah, but I've been battling depression for the last 13 years. Or maybe you're fighting cancer. Or your husband or your wife walked out on you, and you're wondering how you're supposed to be hopeful. I don't think there's one answer that will fix it all, but I want to offer just a few points that have helped me navigate through some of my darkest times.
Don't Shut People Out
The first point is this. and it's very simple: don't shut people out. If you're in that place right now where life is tough and you're crying out, Lord, how much longer am I going to have to go through this? Make a decision that you're not going to shut people out. One of the biggest lies of the enemy is that you're the only one going through this, or you're the only one with the crazy thoughts or the compulsions that you're fighting. If he can feed you that lie when you're alone, you're not going to have anybody to encourage you. That's why it's so important that you stay connected to the church. Get some people around you that are going to encourage you, challenge you, and correct you if needed. Don't shut people out.
Fill Your Mind with God's Word
Point number two is this: make sure that you're constantly filling your mind with God's Word. This is my biggest challenge. There are so many voices coming my way, and the challenge is to tune everybody out and lean in to hear what God's Word says. Because there's going to be the news, there's going to be your friends, your self-talk—things that you say to yourself. There are a lot of competing voices, and God's voice has to be the loudest voice in our lives.
Hold On to an Eternal Perspective
The third one is this: make sure that you hold on to this verse. That's a simple point, but it's a reminder that what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory that He will reveal to us later. Let's have an eternal perspective. That day is coming where my pain will expire. It will come to an end. It could be five years from now, it could be 30, it could be 40, it could be 50. But my pain will eventually end. The reason that we can face today is because we don't have a dead Savior. Jesus is alive, and He's transforming hearts. Because He lives, I have strength for today. Because He lives, I have the promises that He's made to me. Because He lives, I can face my depression, my anxiety, my struggle. Why? Because my Savior is alive. Paul reminds us—don't forget that what you're going through right now is nothing compared to what's coming.
Don't Give Up on Jesus
I want to end with this. Determine that no matter what happens, you're not going to give up on Jesus. When we go through pain and suffering, it will either pull us closer to the Lord or we're going to drift from the Lord. Don't allow your pain to cause distance from the Lord. Keep drawing near to God. The promise is this: when you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.
