Suffer Gracefully 

Call To Prayer 

Title: Suffer Gracefully 

By: Njuacha Hubert 

Date: 23.12.2023 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 ESV 

Everyone indeed suffers in one way or another at some point or another. As it is rightly said life is full of ups and downs. However, as Christians our sufferings should be less from the consequences sin but merely from trials that God permits (1 Peter 4: 15-16). Regardless, there is an accessible grace in Christ for us to seize; a grace to suffer gracefully like Jesus did at the cross.  

The first key I would share to access this grace is understanding from scriptures why God takes us through trials. 

Before going into trials, suffering as consequence of sin is still an opportunity for repentance and learning and thus an act of mercy and love from God (Proverbs 3:12). 

Trials is a preparation for a greater dimension of God’s blessing; both for you and through you (1 Peter 5:10). It is one thing to get a treasure, it is another thing to keep it. Trials form the character we need to sustain the blessings of God and not be destroyed by them (James 1:3-4). We see this by comparing the life of King David and King Saul. David and Saul received the treasure of kingship. Saul was anointed to become king and soon afterwards he became king meanwhile David spent several challenging years after he was anointed to become king before he eventually became king. All the trials of David moulded the character in him to sustain the kingship whereas Saul lost it not long after he got it. Jesus Christ learnt obedience (character) through the things He suffered (Hebrews 5: 8).  

Trials bring out or demonstrate the gifts of God already in us (1 Peter 1:7). Abraham believed God’s promise and God gifted him with righteousness (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4), but it was only when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac that we saw the gift of faithfulness manifest (Genesis 22:11-13).  

Having these understandings and more from scriptures, when passing through trials, we can avoid complaining like the Israelites in the wilderness and instead trust the Lord like Abraham going up to sacrifice the son He had waited for so long to have. Abraham’s trust came from knowledge of God acquired by experience (Hebrews 11:18-19). So rather than complain we ought to praise God and draw out the joy in that hope (James 1:2-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Yes, joy no sadness.  

And of course, we also need to pray to obtain grace always.  

Prayer Point: 

Let’s thank God for His Son, Jesus. Let’s pray for grace to suffer gracefully.