Lessons From Suffering Part 4
\“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8).
How does suffering produce a humble mind?
Recently I read Joel Muddamalle’s book The Hidden Peace. He describes humility as having a right understanding of who God is coupled with a right understanding of who we are.
The challenges and heartaches of life’s suffering deepen our understanding of God’s character and our own identify in a way nothing else can.
When we feel our most vulnerable, we find safety in the arms of Jesus and the promise He’ll never let us go. “No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one” (John 10:28b-30, NLT).
When we feel abandoned, we find courage in in knowing God Himself seeks us out and cares for us. “Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out…so I will seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness” (Ezekiel 34:11-12).
When we felt broken, we take hope in knowing God not only sees our pain, He has the power to heal it. “He heals up the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalms 147:3).
When we feel ashamed that we played a part in the struggles we face, we find peace in knowing God will never turn away or abandon us. “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Yes, suffering demonstrates God’s power, love and restoration to our hurting hearts. Suffering opens our eyes to our own powerlessness, vulnerability and need. And when we see God in all of His greatness and love, and ourselves in all of our helplessness and desperation, then we finally begin to see the beautiful reality that comes from placing our small, simple souls in the hands of our loving, limitless God. We begin to have humble minds.
Until next time,
Shelby
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