Seeing The Rainbow Through The Rain

But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called.
1 Peter 2:20-21

Anyone can attend a concert and enjoy a violinist’s skill. But only another violinist can fully understand a violinist’s suffering: the years of practice, self-denial and financial hardship it takes to achieve the expertise that others will travel miles to enjoy. Through the musician’s suffering, others are richly blessed.

Peter and the early Christians understood that suffering has a place in life, and J. Hudson Taylor will help you do the same.

WALK WITH J. HUDSON TAYLOR
“It is possible to receive salvation through Christ but still have an imperfect appreciation of the nature and responsibilities of our calling.

“To what are we called? To do good, to suffer for it, and to take it patiently.

“Now none of the proceedings of God are arbitrary: All the acts and all the requirements of perfect wisdom and perfect goodness must of necessity be wise and good.

“We are called when we so suffer to take it patiently, thankfully, and joyfully because—seen from a right point of view—there is neither ground nor excuse for impatience. On the contrary, there is abundant cause for overflowing thanks and joy.

“To make the message intelligible, it must be lived. Be glad that you have the opportunity to make the grace of God intelligible to unbelievers. The greater the persecutions are, the greater the power of your testimony.”

WALK CLOSER TO GOD
As J. Hudson Taylor makes clear, there is a purpose to a Christian’s suffering—even if no one else understands what it is. That purpose is God’s glory.

Your calling is to trust and obey, in order that the overflow of your suffering might be sweet music to God. It may be just the melody a fellow sufferer needs to hear!