Every time a driver runs a stop sign. Every time a citizen fudges on his tax return, every time a patient ignores a doctor’s advice, every time someone drinks and drive he or she is asking for trouble. I could on and on with examples. Reality we put ourselves in troubles path more than we think we do.

Let me say, that you and I cannot take all the blame. We live in a society and a culture that is encouraging, I would even say advocating that we look for trouble.

Our culture is telling us that everyone is doing it so therefore we should do it. Tradition is telling us, we’ve always done it this way and so therefore right or wrong we have to do it that. Reason is telling us, it seems logical and it makes sense so it must be right. Emotion is telling us, it feels right and it feels good so it can’t be wrong.

Have you seen the cholesterol commercial where a guy is walking around with a smile on his face telling every one that he lowered his cholesterol? Picture that commercial, but this time instead of the man joyfully telling every one that he lowered his cholesterol he is telling everyone I have a brain tumor or I have prostrate cancer.  You can’t picture that, can you?  The reason you can’t is that rejoicing and suffering or rejoicing and trouble seem to be a contradiction.  Suffering and troubles are usually associated with ulcers, pain, discomfort, and desperate prayers to God for relief.  Notice, however, what Paul associates with suffering

“suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character;
and character, hope.”

James echoes this truth saying,

“Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials
of many kinds because you know
that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything .” (James 1:2-4)

In light of the present world situation, the war, a mysterious respiratory infection, along with the usual news stories and our own troubles you should be rejoicing our socks off.  Chances are, if you were, we would think that you were having a nervous breakdown.

Maybe that explains why Paul was able to ‘rejoice,’ he was having a nervous break down or he was in complete denial of his situation.  Both conclusions are wrong.  Which leads me to the question how could Paul or anyone “Rejoice in suffering.”

Paul was not exempt from suffering. You might say that he had a PhD from the school of hard knocks.  He was beaten, jailed, ridiculed, and ship wrecked all more than once.  Yet in each case he was able to overcome his troubles and not be overcome by his troubles.

Blaise Pascal, was a Christian who experienced much physical and emotional trauma.  He wrote this about his troubles and suffering.  “Pain was the loving and legitimate violence necessary to produce my liberty.”  Like Paul, he saw suffering as God’s gift to him.

Ron Susek makes a point in his book God Will Answer that we should not only welcome suffering in our lives but also, ask God for suffering.  He is not saying that we should ask for trouble for trouble’s sake.  Ask for trouble that has been wisely selected by God to form you into a masterpiece of heaven.

I am not sure I want to ask for trouble, but I have learned to accept it knowing that my God who saved me from death will all the more use my troubles for His glory and my well being. The love that caused Christ to die is the same love that sends the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us every day.  The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that saved you and is available every day.  We have a love and power to call on each day for help to meet every challenge and every trial.  God has carefully designed our trouble to equip us with eternity.  The more deeply we believe in God’s saving grace more we will be able to rejoice.

You and I are being called by God to do just that, because you and I have the blessed assurance that Jesus is yours and mine.  That absolutely can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.