• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Prayer
    • Examen
    • Fasting
    • Sacred Reading
    • Self-denial
    • Silence & Solitude
    • The Sacred Everyday
  • Bible Studies
    • To Do-ers List
    • 1 Thessalonians: A Life of Faith
    • Scripture Art Journaling
    • Walking WIth God: A Bible Study on the Book of Ruth
    • Short & Sweet
    • Daily Bible Studies
    • Take 5!
    • Bible Journal-graphics
    • Scripturegraphics
    • Guides
  • Podcasts
    • Reflections
    • ihear
    • i pray
    • Walking in Truth
    • Topical podcasts
  • Salvation
  • Healthy Living
    • Aromatherapy
    • Children
    • Exercise
      • Faith & Fit
      • Free One-Week Workout!
    • Gardening
    • Herbs
    • My Journey to Migraine Relief: Healing My Vertigo
    • Natural Beauty
    • Recipes
    • Stress
  • Shop
  • Nav Widget Area

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

Only By Prayer

Where the sacred and everyday meet

You are here: Home / Short & Sweet / Short & Sweet: 2 Things To Do When Suffering

Short & Sweet: 2 Things To Do When Suffering

Suffering jpg

“Therefore let those who are suffering according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” 1 Peter 4:19

I have done a lot of things while suffering. I’ve whined, complained and cried; the perfect recipe for a pity party with one attendee—me. I have learned these reactions do not alleviate suffering or improve circumstances. In some instances they indicate a very shallow faith in God and His plans life. And, for some reason, these fruitless activities do not make God’s top-ten list of “what to do when you are suffering.” Whining and complaining get you stuck. Just ask the Israelites—they were stuck for 40 years.

While whining and complaining may be our natural inclination they are not God’s best practice when it comes to suffering. He has other ideas. He wants to give us a new normal.

Idea #1: Entrust your soul to God.

The Greek word for entrust used in the verse above is paratithmi. I love the meaning of this word. Paratithmi means to place down to another, to commit to one’s charge, to deposit, to place beside or near another. Imagine taking your soul in your hands and placing it beside God, knowing that He is better able to tend its keeping than you are. Why? Because we would safe ourselves or comfort ourselves right out of many valuable lessons God is trying to teach us. Let’s face it, some lessons are only learned through suffering.

Idea #2: Keep doing good.

What good do we need to keep doing while suffering? Keep the faith. Speak the gospel. Help others. Walk. Confront. Pray. Forgive. Give. Love. Serve. Share. Hope. Dream. Act. Work. Teach. Laugh. Share. Rest. Live.

Life does not stop because of suffering, and life does not have to be perfect to be abundant. God has a beautiful way of hiding blessings amid the pain. You’ll find treasures you’d never acquire apart from the suffering.

Two more considerations:

  1.  First, did you notice sometimes God allows us to suffer? This one is a little hard to swallow.  It’s not that God wants us to suffer or is pleased when we suffer, but because of our nature some things will only be accomplished when we suffer.
    Suffering is not about our pain, it’s about our progress
    Tweet This
    . What is God teaching you or showing your through suffering?  If you are struggling, a great work is at stake.
  2. Second, did you notice the name for God used in verse 19?  Why Creator? Why not Healer or Avenger? Because amid our suffering, God is busy creating something new, something good, something beautiful. Can we entrust our souls to our Creator not only to bless us with good things but to bless us with good things that have been created by suffering?

Action Points When Suffering:

  1. Do something you enjoy. I remember a painful season in my life of many years ago. I put off doing my favorite hobby because I wanted to wait until the situation was resolved. I wasn’t going to have any fun until things were better. Great idea, right? Do something you enjoy. Have fun by faith!
  2. Do something for another. No act of kindness is too small to be significant. Send the card. Make the call. Say the prayer. Bake the cookies. No matter how you are suffering, someone needs to hear from you.
  3. Do something with Jesus. Add an extra Quiet Time to your day. Ask Him to encourage you very specifically through His word, a song, a radio broadcast.

Remember, when you are suffering, entrust your soul to Him and do good to others.

Life is sweet.

http___signatures.mylivesignature.com_54493_129_D5D820C2A0F89154063869217CF282DC

Copyright 2016

All rights reserved

 

image_pdfimage_print

March 29, 2016 5:00 am MaryK 2 Comments Filed Under: Short & Sweet

Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 1

    AvatarMarsha says

    March 29, 2016 at 11:07 am

    Lord, thank you for the suffering You did for us on the cross. Help us to understand that we don’t suffer needlessly;but during our suffering You are creating good things in us. Amen

    Reply
    • 2

      MaryKMaryK says

      March 29, 2016 at 8:39 pm

      Marsha,
      God promises to use all things for our good. We can rest in Him knowing that he is always working on our behalf. I too am thankful for what He did for me on the cross. He is God of all creation!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

How to Become a Christ Follower

https://youtu.be/K0HALBis50A

New to prayer? Start here:

A prayer is mightier than a wish

Prayer Resources

A Little About Mary

MaryKBible study writer. Teacher. Runner. A fan of all four seasons. Loves Jesus. Follow me @MaryKayKane. Read More…

A Little About Jane

AvatarFollow of Jesus. Writer. Beekeeper, herbalist, and aromatherapist. Love looking for the sacred in the everyday. Often find it in the garden. How about you? Read More…

Subscribe to Podcast on iTunes

Please pray as Covid is quickly spreading through many areas of our country and the world. Click on this link to see what One Prayer is all about and for information on the current prayer concern.

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Only by Prayer

Only by Prayer
Only by Prayer
Only by Prayer
4 6    View on Facebook

Search by Topic

Advent Advent devotional Bible Bible study Bible study series Christ Christmas devotion Easter faith following Jesus give thanks God God's Word Grace healing heart Holy Spirit hope Jesus Lent life Lord love online Bible study Only By Prayer peace podcast pray prayer prayers praying purpose quick Bible Study quick devotions Ruth scripture Short & sweet short Bible studies short Bible study short devotions sin Thanksgiving walk by faith women's Bible study

Archives

Privacy Policy

Daily Bible Studies

Psalm 23 Remix

Psalm 23 Remix

July 9, 2020 By MaryK Leave a Comment

Psalm 23 is one of the the most well-known parts of the Bible. People who do not claim to be religious can quote parts of Psalm 23. Christians have become so familiar with this beloved psalm we almost cease to hear it. What we need is a Psalm 23 remix- a fresh look at an […]

Newsletter Subscription

My Favorite Post

Just Jesus

I love Christmas. I love the displays, the music, the food and the lights, but this was overwhelming. Despite the fact that it was night, I needed my sunglasses. The light emanating from the Christmas display of a neighboring house was overwhelming. Think air-traffic control tower…light house…l.e.d. headlights straight to the retinas. I’m sure this[Read More…]

Only By Prayer Tweets

OnlyByPrayer
OnlyByPrayer @by_prayer

🙏 Calling all prayer warriors! - https://t.co/EHD9rKILc5 https://t.co/16s6EewPUG
View on Twitter
by_prayer photo
0
0
OnlyByPrayer
OnlyByPrayer @by_prayer

New Book Helps You Pray for USA🙏 - https://t.co/N4Eulh7xcO https://t.co/sc6tuALuCD
View on Twitter
by_prayer photo
0
0

Footer

Feature Anything

Advent
youtu.be/yIppN9kruB0

How can you go about “re-adventing” Advent and Christmas in the midst of the unfamiliar, the challenges of 2020? What does this look like for[Read More…]

Featured Product

Beeswax Candles

A Featured Item

The Lord is near

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to those who have a[Read More…]

  • About Us
    • About Jane
    • About Mary
  • Contact Jane and Mary

© Copyright 2016 · Pretty Lifestyle WordPress Theme by: PDCD