For unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.-–Philippians 1:29
Rather than spare His most choice servants from suffering God actually insists that they do. Naturally we don’t always know why–we aren’t suppose to. We are to trust Him. It isn’t our duty to understand, but to stand. As an unknown writer said many years ago:
Stand up in the place where the dear Lord has put you, and there do your best. God gives us trial tests. He puts life before us as an antagonist face to face. Out of the buffeting of a serious conflict we are expected to grow strong. The tree that grows where tempests toss its boughs and bend its trunk often almost to breaking, is often more firmly rooted than the tree which grows in the sequestered valley where no storm ever brings stress or strain. The same is true of life. The grandest character is grown in hardship.
That is good advice. Trials aren’t just granted, allowed to come, they are “given”–as a gift from God. Although we do not yet see the final product of our problem, when we do we will praise Him. Meanwhile we are to simply stand firm in faith, knowing that our God makes no mistakes.
