Kept

Every kind of suffering imaginable has occurred with God’s people though the ages. They have all, without exception, suffered physical, mental, and spiritual maladies. They have endured them all. Take a look at the list of Paul’s experiences with suffering and be astounded by the grace supplied to him which enabled him not only to endure them but to remain in the faith. The list goes like this; toils, imprisonments, beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, treachery, hunger, thirsts, cold and nakedness- he experienced them all: besides his daily concern for the churches.
How did he and others endure these things? How did they maintain their confidence in the goodness and faithfulness of God? They believed that God was in all their sufferings. They did not think of the things that happened to them apart from God, nor did they strive over the difference between what God does and what He permits. They were able to find God even in the things He allowed. Because all creation belongs to Him, they saw Him as taking ultimate responsibility for whatever happens. If it were possible to conceive of anything totally void of good, God, they believed, would not allow it. Anything that happens, when met in God, is fertile soil for good fruit. So, they were even able to find God in suffering; even in prolonged, undeserved, and bitter suffering. ‘Faith becomes a personal possession only through conflict.’ Christ Jesus has proven again and again to be absolutely trustworthy.