Praise belongs to You, My Lord, for through Your suffering and grief, You are filled with compassion for Your people who are in distress. You do not bring misfortune and afflictions upon Your people. In most instances, they are the result of being in a fallen and sick world or they are the consequences from Your principle of “sowing and reaping.” I am thankful for Your protection from my enemies, upholding my rights and all manner of blessings. It is not Your plan to bring both calamities and good things into my life. Your desire is for me to prosper and be in good health … to be the head and not the tail … and to be an overcomer of evil with good. Grief is a part of every person’s life and Your desire is to replace it with joy and a feeling of well-being. I should not complain when suffering loss because of my sins. Instead, I should seek to avoid sin and, thereby, the grief associated with it.
As a child of God, I am an heir with You and must accept the fact that suffering and grief are a part of my life too. Because You suffered, You are able to encourage me and uphold me in the midst of my afflictions. You alone understand me and know my weaknesses. As a consequence, You are able to show me mercy and how to overcome my circumstances. I know that I can count on Your help in rebuilding my life and eliminating my disappointments. By faith, I trust that You will deliver me from the power of hopelessness and depression. Your heart’s desire is to help me bear my burdens and lift their weight from off my back. As a member of Your body, I must rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Too often I am indifferent or apathetic toward others grief and suffering. Help me become more involved in showing compassion to those who are hurting.
Like You, I must learn obedience through the suffering and grief I endure. My life is a continuous series of decisions that lead to a good life and contentment or failure and torment. I must be willing to make choices that allow me to experience self-denial and loss rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin. It is easy to be deceived by the temporary benefits of wealth, popularity and status rather than maintaining a long-term focus on the health of Your Kingdom. I get no credit for enduring punishment for things I do that are wrong. But, if I suffer for doing what is right and endure it, my actions are commendable. You promised that if I suffer for a little while, You will restore me and make me strong again. When I suffer and grieve, I feel as though the pain will never end. In comparison to the joy of eternity with You, dealing with earthly suffering and grief are only temporary. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
I Peter 5:10: And the God of all grace, who called You to eternal glory in Christ, after you suffer a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.