Picture of a “terra cotta wall sconce,” that is–an earthen vessel or a clay pot for holding (and releasing) light.
I can think of four reasons for suffering:
1. We live in a broken world. Every day we endure hassles caused by the Fall: illness, parasites, hurricanes, etc.
2. We have an enemy—we are attacked regularly, especially when God is planning something great.
3. God allows struggles to help you grow.
I think these three are well known. But Paul notes an interesting fourth reason for troubles:
4. When Christians suffer, God’s light shines through them.
In 2 Corinthians 4, he writes that—
“We have this treasure [the gospel message of our salvation] in earthen vessels so that the surpassing power can be seen to be from God and not from ourselves. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our bodies the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body” 2 Corinthians 4:7-11.
Consider again that first line: “we have this treasure in earthen vessels.” That is, we hold the gospel in a clay pot. The gospel is a light, like a torch. What happens if you put a torch inside a clay pot? It doesn’t give off any light, does it? So what does God do? He allows the pot to crack. Every crack lets out a little more light. The more you suffer, the more the light is revealed. Great suffering is like shattering the clay pot—and all the lost people can see the brilliant light of Christ shining forth.
So we are clay pots, earthen vessels, and the lost world watches us. They see us suffer, and that’s when God’s truth shines the brightest. (Incidentally, I believe the effect of the suffering is cumulative—it changes us enough that the light that begins escaping the pot through today’s suffering will continue to escape from now on. That’s why some of those who have walked with the Lord for many years shine so much more brightly than younger Christians—they have suffered much and their clay pot is filled with broken places where the Light of Christ shines out.)
When you suffer—if you suffer today—think about these four reasons for suffering. Ask God to use your suffering for His glory.
Dear God, thank you for using me as a witness. When I suffer, remind me that You are in control and that You will bring good from it. Help me grow through suffering. And let my suffering bring light to those around me. May they see Jesus in me and be drawn to His light and His truth.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 