Encountering SufferingSample

Jesus Brings Healing

Life is full of twists and turns that can lead to suffering. Throughout life, we all experience pain that can be hard to understand. That pain should not lead to discouragement because there is hope. The Bible addresses the subject of suffering by telling people's stories. They often experienced the same forms of suffering that people today experience. God wants us to find hope in Him because He is the only one who can deliver us from our suffering. Abby Rike experienced suffering when she lost her family in a car crash. She had to rely on the confidence of God’s promise to deliver her.

Relying on God does not mean that suffering will stop, but it does provide hope that will sustain us. Jesus brings healing in ways that we may never understand, and our suffering often draws us closer to Him. In the end, Abby Rike’s story of relying on God’s promise of eternal life helped bring others to Jesus. Suffering should not bring shame. Instead, we should praise God and share with others how He delivered us through the midst of our struggles.

Apply

• In the the areas of your life where you are experiencing hardship, how can you trust God through your suffering?
• How has God delivered you from difficult circumstances in the past?
• How can you use these stories to help others?

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