Job 36:15 - "But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction."
Psalm 22:24 - "For he has not despised or distained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his fare from him but has listened to his cry for help."
Psalm 126:5-6 - "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them."
There are times in your life when you will suffer, it is an inevitable part of this sinful world in which we live. It is not a sign that God does not care. If God always took away your suffering, you would not need him or desire heaven. More importantly, you would probably end up following God just for a magic cure rather than for your need of salvation.
Some of the suffering we endure is by chance, by an accident or illness. Whereas some is a consequence of something deliberate such as neglect, failure or sin.
It is important to be conscious of the fact that suffering is a universal experience and God uses it to draw people to him. While the Bible never promises a life free from pain, it does assure you, as a believer, that God is with you in your pain and that one day all pain will be gone forever.
Daniel 3:17-18 - "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But if he does not, we want to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
God has promised all of us that he will protect us and keep us safe. The ultimate fulfilment of this promise is in safeguarding your soul so that your body and soul will live with him in heaven forever.
Just like Daniel's friends, you must commit yourself, no matter what happens to your earthly body to loving and obeying God to ensure that your heavenly body will be in the right place in eternity.
Jeremiah 42:13 - "However, if you say, 'we will not stay in this land,' and so disobey the Lord,"
Jeremiah 42:16 - "then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die."
Jeremiah taught about the relationship between your obedience and the protection of God. Obedience to God will protect you from the consequences of disobedience. For example, obeying God's command not to cheat will protect you from the embarrassment, loss of friends and potential jail sentences that can come from cheating.
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