Suffering brings growth or whips our tuchas

What are we getting out of suffering? Do we receive growth in our souls or is it just a pain in the behind and we move on? (Till the next beating...and the next...)

What can we learn from trials in order to make the next one look and feel less of a whipping?


James 1:12 ESV / 1,192 helpful votes
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Romans 12:12 ESV / 1,009 helpful votes
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 680 helpful votes
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

John 16:33 ESV / 640 helpful votes
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

James 1:2-8 ESV / 498 helpful votes
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ...

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 474 helpful votes
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Romans 5:3 ESV / 452 helpful votes
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

Psalm 23:4 ESV / 398 helpful votes
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Romans 8:18 ESV / 375 helpful votes
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.


What have you experienced twice where the first time you over came the trial and the next time it came it felt less of a beating? What was the key factor in changing your perception the second time?

If we knew these trials are suppose to cause all these good things in us how should our attitude toward suffering be?

Like childbirth, my gosh how painful but we grasp ahold of the immense pain as we know it brings us such a blessing! AND When the pain is over we turn right back around and embrace getting pregnant and having another baby again!!!

If we knew all trials brought forth a new birth would we gladly receive them? Not more than what we can handle but what is bringing us to perfection.

James 1:2-8 ESV / 498 helpful votes
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ...

Vodka is good!

1 Peter 5:10 ESV / 1,350 helpful votes
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Lets just look at this one verse, how about this...God himself? I can drink to that, L'Chaim!!

I always think and meditate on things in pictures. I see this as a huge storm or maybe an earthquake, and see myself curled up against God, as close as I can get to Him, melded into Him in fact till the storm passes and the sun comes out again.

What do you all see suffering as when it comes to all the verses mentioned above?

Who can see something happening in the world (your world at home or our big huge world) that is not pleasant and might even be almost too much to bare but you see God in it, not the Devil, but God and he is definitely using it to show you something about your world.

Can we see any of the suffering out there in the world as sent by God to show us something? To help us?

Tell me more about that Vis