The Doorpost: Discipline, suffering normal part of life

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:16-17

The first law of the Four Spiritual Laws says, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” That statement is true for all Christians, but we have a tendency to misunderstand it. Our human reasoning tells us that for something to be wonderful, there can’t be any suffering. The verses above tell us that God’s wonderful plan for us will always include suffering at least some of the time.

We have heard people say, “Jesus is the solution to your problems.” Perhaps we have said it ourselves. The statement is true. Jesus is always the solution to our problems, but sometimes His solution involves helping us endure the problems. He doesn’t always make them go away.

Hebrews 12:7-8 tells us that, “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline. If you are left without discipline in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

Even Jesus was subjected to this discipline. Hebrews 5:8 tells us, “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.”

Discipline and suffering are a normal part of the Christian life. They prepare us for the day when we will be glorified with Him.