First the Suffering

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, established and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. 1Peter 5:10

"Why do we have to suffer?" "If God truly loves us why do all the bad things happen to us?"For 1000's of years I am sure people smarter than I am have asked and wrestled with the same questions, and they still haven't discovered the answers. I dont even try to answer those questions anymore. I do have a statement I would like to say right there though. "If God only blessed us after we became believers- if he took away all suffering, hardship, and turmoil for Christians- wouldn't it be a way to bribe people into the faith?"
Thats not how God works. The Lord wants us to come to Him out of love and because we know we're needy- so needy that only He can fill those needs for us.
The reality is that from birth until we go home to be with Jesus we will suffer at times. Some have harder times that others, but suffering is still suffering.
I also think that when people watch us as we turn to God for help in our hardships and they see our victories, it provides a witness to them. That witness may not always make them turn to Christ, but it does show Gods presence in our lives and makes them aware of what they're missing.
Yes, we will suffer as children of God. The other day I had a thought about this; Suffering results in thanksgiving. When our lives turn to chaotic and we dont know what to do, we turn to the Lord for help, and He answers us. He answers our prayers and sets us free. And as a result- WE ARE THANKFUL!
I believe the time between suffering and thankful is when satan really attacks us in our thoughts. He may begin by saying, "if God really loved you, you would not have to go through this." It is satans subtle way of saying to us that serving God is useless.... I BEG TO DIFFER!!!!! The truth is problems will come if we are believers or nonbelievers. AS BELIEVERS- we will have VICTORIES! As a believer we can have peace in the midst of a storm, we can enjoy life even with the storm raging, because we can know that God is working on our behalf even when satan is raging all around. I KNOW THAT MY GOD WILL DELIVER ME!
The next attack is satan whispering how it is not going to get any better. He (satan) tells us we have served God for nothing. Satan will tell us if this happens when you serve God what could be worse if you don't. If God truly cared, he wouldnt let you suffer.....
THIS is where we have to stand firm and know without a doubt that GOD is working for us.
Job lost everything; his children, posessions and his health. But he continues to say"I..... thought He slay me, yet I will I wait and trust him" job13:15---
Job refused to allow satan to attack his mind and make him question God. How often do we allow satan to attack our mind? Job never said he understood everything, he simply knew that God was with him and he never doubted the love and presence of God.
THAT IS THE ATTITUDE I am strieving for. We dont have to understand it or explain it----
We just must know that God ask us to always trust Him.
Obediance is a requirement-understanding is optional..... (simple enough huh)