God Approved Sufferings

God Approved Sufferings

The Bible frequently presents suffering not as a sign of God's rejection, but as a tool He uses for spiritual growth and refinement. The common reaction of men is to reject suffering. This part of the statement reflects a natural human tendency. We instinctively avoid pain and hardship. The Bible acknowledges this, but also provides a different perspective.

We read in Hebrews 12:11 that the verse directly addresses the unpleasantness of suffering and its eventual positive outcome. – “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." The word “discipline” here does not point exclusively to physical suffering. While it can include physical hardship, the Greek word used, paideia (pa?de?a), has a much broader meaning. The term paideia refers to the entire process of raising a child. This includes education, training, instruction, and correction—all with the goal of fostering moral and spiritual maturity. It encompasses a wide range of experiences, both pleasant and painful, that God uses to shape believers into His likeness. This compares God's discipline to that of an earthly father. A loving father corrects his children not to harm them, but to guide them toward a good and prosperous life. Similarly, God's discipline is a sign of His love, not His anger. This discipline can manifest in various forms, including:

Trials and hardships – These can be physical, emotional, or financial. They test our faith and force us to rely on God.

Conviction of the Holy Spirit – The inner turmoil and guilt we feel when we've sinned is a form of discipline that prompts us to repent, and our conviction of our conscience that we feel guilty including sins committed is only produced by the Holy Spirit.

Correction through God's Word – The teachings of the Bible correct our wrong thinking and behavior, guiding us toward a righteous path.

God allows us to experience the consequence of our own actions and the natural results of our sin, which can be a painful but effective lesson. Ultimately, the "discipline" in this verse refers to any form of training or correction that God uses to lead believers to maturity. The suffering and pain are not the goal, but rather the means through which God produces the "harvest of righteousness and peace."

The harvest of righteousness stated in the verse is the key towards salvation. While the Bible doesn't present it as a simple, mechanical checklist, it precedes repentance. Conviction by the Holy Spirit is the starting point; before a person can repent of his sins committed and trust in God, he must first be convicted and transformed by the Holy Spirit for a renewed mind and spirit, becoming spiritually minded to eventually turn from sin.

Once a person is convicted of their sin, the next logical step is repentance. Repentance literally means a "change of mind" or a "turning around," turning away from sin. Acts 3:19: "Repent therefore, and turn TO God, that your sins may be blotted out." Luke 13:3: "I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Repentance is the natural response of men after the Holy Spirit convicts and transform them. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit in John 16:8, "And when He (the Holy Spirit) come, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." Conviction leads the person to trust in God, and recognize his need for a savior, generating faith – acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. This conviction is not merely a feeling of guilt but a divinely-imparted revelation of our spiritual condition and our separation from a holy God. It's the moment a person's eyes are opened to their own sinfulness and their inability to save themselves. It's not just feeling sorry for a mistake; it's a decision to turn away from a life of sin and toward God. Romans 2:4: The apostle Paul states that it is "the kindness of God" that "leads you to repentance." This shows that repentance is not something we conjure up on our own but is a response to God's grace and an essential component of salvation. This turning away from sin is a necessary part of the process, as it demonstrates a sincere desire to follow God, have faith in Jesus, and not remain in rebellion against Him, but rather obey Him.

After repentance, the person places their faith in Jesus Christ. This is the act of acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior and trusting in His atoning work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins through Him, as well as salvation through Jesus. Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, Luke 5:24 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins.” Romans 10:9-10: "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." The passage from Ephesians clarifies that faith itself is a gift from God, not something we earn, not anything that human effort can do, but it is solely by the work of God Himself alone that salvation is produced. It is at this point—the moment of genuine faith—that a person is justified (declared righteous in God's eyes). This is the "righteousness" that is attained. It is not a righteousness that we have earned through our own actions, but the righteousness of Christ that is imputed, or credited, to us by means of God’s grace alone. Righteousness is what justifies us before God. Righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior: Romans 3:22 “Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe.”