"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial..." (Jas.1:12)
The other day my wife and I shared a bit of what I'll call minor suffering.
Nothing major at all. The worst thing about it was it seemed a waste of time.
Doesn't all suffering seem that way?
It appears so unnecessary and fruitless! Couldn't we all be more productive and fruitful without the suffering we face?
Put another way...
It's hard to get dominion when you're consumed with trivialities, sleepless or in pain.
But here's the thing...
God uses suffering to advance His work... in ways that are hard to discern -- yet really quite glorious.
Consider Jesus...
Life cut short at 33, under unimaginable suffering.
So tragic.
Yet through it He secured the salvation of the world.
Now you may have a hard time seeing what's redemptive about your own suffering, but rest assured...
As you taste the fellowship of Christ's suffering, there is a hope, purpose and glory in it...
...and He who works all things for good is able to turn your suffering into a ministry of sorts as you serve Him through it.