(11) Strength in Suffering Series
If you need absolute proof that suffering is part of Christianity, then look to Christ, the founder of our faith. Our God introduced the Son long before He was born of Mary by describing Him as the servant who was to suffer for us (Isaiah 53). Suffering is a means God uses to draw us closer to Him and closer to each other. Suffering is also a means for God to create in us the right kind of view of Him, a view that brings hope.
Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;
– Philippians 2:5-7
Paul encourages his brothers and sisters to have the mind of Christ. He steps through a summary of Christ’s experiences to depict how to go about having this mind. He begins with Jesus’ role before He was born as man. Before He came to earth, He existed as deity—God the Ever-existing One. Almighty in power and knowing, the Son knew what would happen, when it would happen, and how it would happen. He had the power to change any circumstance and rise above suffering. Instead of insisting that He remain free of suffering, He gave Himself into God the Father’s care to serve the Father’s will. In the role of a servant to the Father, He became a human being. As all humans are, He became subject to the frailties of mankind. God the Father grew Jesus within the human boundaries of time. God the Father revealed to the Son what He needed to know when He needed to know it. Jesus relinquished His ability to control the things going on around Him. Jesus chose to be given the limited power the Father gave Him at the times the Father chose to give Him power. This complete dependence on the Father shows us the perfect example of dependence on God. The Father provided what Jesus needed when He needed it. We need this example of dependence to understand how a servant of God behaves in times of suffering.
and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
– Philippians 2:8
This dependence on God to supply all one’s needs depicts godly humbleness. This is the aspect of children that we often lose as we become adults. It’s that innate trust that children express. They say and act toward the adult with the simple belief that says, “I know you will take care of me.” Humbleness is complete reliance during the ebbs and flows of suffering. Jesus shows how our relationship to God is wholly dependent, like a child with a scrape who looks to her father to kiss the boo-boo and make things right again. It requires the belief that God will be your comfort and come to your aid. Within humbleness is the steadfast assurance that one can do anything when holding the Father’s hand. Jesus showed us that it includes enduring immeasurable pain, the shame and false judgment of the people who should support and believe you, and, even, cruel death.
Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
-Philippians 2:9-11
Christ’s absolute trust in and dependence on the Father brings with it a job, a responsibility. He is given the power to break down the system of sin and death. He then offers freedom to lost souls by bringing them under His care. Jesus’ role as a suffering servant prepared Him to take up the crown as King of all kings. He had to suffer the things of being a man to assure us that He knows how it feels and He can comfort us. He, as God, can say, “I’ve been there. I know what you are going through. I can tell you from experience that you can do this; you can overcome, and I know exactly how to help you. It starts with letting go of your will, just like I did, and trusting wholly, like a child, in Me as your God.”
This attitude is the opposite of the self-inflation and vainglory seen in the previous verses. When I see myself in an elevated position, then I begin to rely on my own strength to get things done. That’s when that child-like trust gets exchanged for the self-reliant trust. Self trusts puts emphasis on what I am doing rather than who I am in my Father’s house. The Christian child will look at her Father and say, “Here I am, God, coming to You to ask what You want me to do.” The self-trusting Christian says, “Look what I am doing for you, God. If it weren’t for my example, what would other Christians know to do?” I struggle with this attitude. I think this is why God has put me through hardships that sometimes keep me from being able to physically do things I think I should do. At first, I blamed myself for being unreliable; then, I realized my reliance was misplaced. God can get the work done by using me or not using me; my job is to trust Him completely.
Can God use you in a role of suffering in order to prepare you for a role you could not otherwise take on? Our preparation for Heaven requires that we learn to trust Him and love Him without holding back or doubting. The mind of Christ is one that accepts the harsh things of living as a human being in a sin-shattered world. We have to learn that simple, trusting faith—faith a child has toward her Father. That means going through the hard, hard things to realize how He is not forsaking you. It means learning to stop white knuckling with fear of the future, dreading the next hard time coming. It means beginning to really see God, to view our heavenly Father as that soft place to land. When we are hurting, we can look up to God in childlike faith and say, “I know you can fix it. I know you can soothe my hurt with your gentle kiss and make it better.”
Next, Paul discusses the importance of obedience in the context of suffering.
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