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This study helps us to be faithful during the times of suffering and sickness. When a person is physically sick he will automatically will become sick spiritually also. But if we go through the Bible we will understand that sickness and suffering are part of life which we should face boldly and which teaches us to love Jesus more and we shall taste more of his love.
1. Attitude
Job 2:4-10
4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life.
5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."
6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job was a righteous and upright man. When he went through physical suffering his attitude was godly. He never blamed God or anyone in this world. He didn’t feel self-pity about himself but he accepted what God gave him.
Brothers & sisters how is your attitude at the times of suffering? Are you blaming God or anybody for that? Are you feeling self-pity about yourself?
Attitude is everything.
2. Rejoice
Romans 5:3-5
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Paul rejoiced in his suffering because he understood that this suffering produced a character of perseverance in his life. That helped him to face any problems in his Christian life. Sickness is a refining process. God sends it to us with the request practice patience now’ and later you will be able to endure patiently in all kinds of trouble and suffering. We will grow spiritually strong by dedicating our will to god.
Are you rejoicing today when you go through physical sickness? Do you feel that god is allowing it to happen to refine you more? When we are sick we need to be more joyful.
3. Blessing
Blessings lie hidden in trials of sickness. When we are well, we are totally involved in our work, our families, daily events,
having little fellowship with the heavenly father through out the day.
At times of sickness and suffering, all of sudden we encounter with God.
We find ourselves confronted with the holiness of God.
There was a spiritual awakening in our, a conviction of sin, a realisation that we had strayed from God and had not lived as a disciple of Jesus in thought, word, and deed.
This awareness was followed by repentance, confession of sins a change of heart, yes, even a total renewal of the person’s life.
When our body suffers sin loses its power.
1 Peter 4:1
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
Thus there seems to be no end to the treasures that lie hidden in sickness.
Brothers & sisters, do you think that suffering is a blessing from God to come closer to Him? Do you thank God for the suffering you had? OR are you complaining and grumbling to God?
When you are sick pray more, read Bible more, be more joyful.
Proverbs 24:10
If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!
So stand strong and stay faithful in times of sickness and suffering.
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