Suffering is a word we hear about as Christian often and weirdly enough it is supposed to encourage us in our walks with God even though it seems to be a very negative thing. It always reminds me of Yoda's famous quote "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, and suffering leads to the Dark Side" but that isn't true the bible tells us that suffering leads in an entirely different path, "we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5.
In the past few years I personally have gone through times of great suffering when I was a Sophomore and Junior in High School I was sick at home suffering from intense anxiety and depression. All of my friends ignored me and my acquaintances thought I had died, my pastor at the time (not Pastor Jim or Pastor Don they are great) didn't even come to visit me and he lived half a block away, but I knew that through all of this God was with me and He would get me though it, and He did I ma here today and stronger than ever because of the things that happened to me.
The same is true for you no matter what type of suffering you are going through weather it be as small as getting a bad grade on a quiz or as large as breaking up with your girl friend or not getting int the college you wanted "Fear not for, I (God) am with you; be not dismayed, for I am you God; I will straighten you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." Romans 8:28
So next time you are suffering don't think "Dark Side" think of it as an opportunity to grow with God into a Righteous Man of God.
-Stephen Zerbe
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