Suffering

Suffering

“For which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.  But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” 

1 Timothy 1:12 (ESV)

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“For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.  Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.  For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.  To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land, to deny people their rights before the Most High, to deprive them of justice - would not the Lord see such things?  Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?  Why should the living complain when punished for their sins?  Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.  Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say: ‘We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven.  You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us; you have slain without pity.  You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.  You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.  ‘All our enemies ahem opened their mouths wide against us.  We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction.’ Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.  My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.  What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city.  Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird.  They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish.  I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the pit.  You heard my plea. ‘Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.’  You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’ You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.  LORD, you have seen the wrong done to me.  Uphold my cause!  You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me. LORD, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me - what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long.” 

Lamentations 3: 31-62 (NIV)

“Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.”  Isaiah 60:20 (NKJV)

“Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.  Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.  Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith.  For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure.  And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever.  Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.  And he has all the power needed to do this - forever!  Amen.” 

1 Peter 5:7-11 (Passion Translation)