Anchorage: The Storm of Sickness | Part 6 of 8Sýnishorn

From Test to Testimony

Our suffering is not without meaning. God uses what we go through in life to prepare us for the purpose He has for our lives. And in that, even through our suffering, we become testaments to the goodness of God and bring glory to Him.

When the disciples asked Jesus about the man who was blind from birth, whether it was his sins or his parents' sins that caused him to be born blind, Jesus’ reply was something entirely different. He answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him”. Beautiful, isn’t it? We have a natural tendency to link up suffering with sin, but Jesus puts it quite clearly here, that is not always the case. Surely this man suffered for many years, but imagine what the testimony of a man who received his eyesight back can do to the people who have known him to be blind from birth! We read another incident of a blind man receiving his sight in Luke 18. While Jesus came to the man blind from birth, in this instance it was the blind man who sought Jesus! It says that he cried out to Him and Jesus healed him immediately, and all the people when they saw it gave praise to God!

Isn’t it wonderful how God is able to use the worst of our situations to bring glory to Him? And that is why we give praise in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us! So hold fast to God even in your suffering. He is setting you up for something better, something greater!

Reflect

If you find yourself suffering today from anything, remember to hold fast to God and submit to Him. He will definitely use your situation for something greater in the future, something that will bless you and those around you and bring glory to His name, whether you see it or not!