Why Does God Allow Suffering? By Pete BriscoeSample

Your Full Inheritance As God’s Child

I beg your pardon,

I never promised you a rose garden.

I could sing you a tune or promise you the moon,

But if that's what it takes to hold you,

I’d just as soon let you go. — Lynn Anderson (and maybe the Father, too?)

Normally, when we hear the word inheritance, we immediately think of money, cars, houses, and businesses passed on to us by a relative. Cool! It’s free stuff given because we just happen to be part of the family. Scripture says we are co-heirs with Christ in God’s Kingdom. That’s just nothing but awesome, too… right? Well, yes and no.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:16-18)

Somewhere along the line, Christianity was injected with the idea that if we give our lives to Jesus, “everything is going to turn up roses.” Yes, the blessings of being one of God’s children are beyond our comprehension. But no, those blessings don’t always come as we want them to. He never promised us a rose garden, and if that’s what it takes to hold us, I think He would just as soon let us go. As brothers and sisters of Christ, we don’t just share the “good” stuff with Christ; we share all of it.

Jesus, You promised me that I would have trouble in this world (John 16:33). Give me the faith to embrace my sufferings on this Earth as part of the full inheritance of the Father just as You did. Give me just a glimpse of the glory that will be revealed in me so that my suffering can be accepted from an eternal perspective.

Reflection:

1. How is suffering affecting your life today?
2. Are you able to trust God with “the wait”? Are you able to say, “I know you love me even though you aren’t showing up right now?”
3. How might Jesus want to work through you to share the Gospel as you wait?

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