Colossians 1:5-6
King James Version
5 For the hope
which is laid up for you in heaven,
whereof ye heard before
in the word of the truth
of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world;
and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you,
since the day ye heard of it,
and knew the grace of God in truth:
The news tell us of much suffering in the world.
If you have a compassionate heart, you cannot bear to see others suffer.
And perhaps, you also have your own suffering to bear.
Many will question if it is the will of GOD, that man suffer.
If you're born again, you know the answers.
Our first sin
gave us our first sorrow.
No thanks to Satan, who knew we'd succumb, as he confused us about GOD's law:
Genesis 3:1
King James Version
3 Now the serpent was more subtil
than any beast of the field
which the Lord God had made.
And he said unto the woman,
Yea, hath God said,
Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
As you well know, Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.
Genesis 3:13
King James Version
13 And the Lord God said unto the woman,
What is this that thou hast done?
And the woman said,
The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
The result?
Trust and innocence were lost.
Genesis 3:7
King James Version
7 And the eyes of them both were opened,
and they knew that they were naked;
and they sewed fig leaves together,
and made themselves aprons.
Satan was cursed.
Genesis 3:14-15
King James Version
14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent,
Because thou hast done this,
thou art cursed above all cattle,
and above every beast of the field;
upon thy belly shalt thou go,
and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15 And I will put enmity
between thee and the woman,
and between thy seed and her seed;
it shall bruise thy head,
and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Death, and hardship, began.
Genesis 3:16
King James Version
16 Unto the woman he said,
I will greatly multiply
thy sorrow and thy conception;
in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;
and thy desire shall be to thy husband,
and he shall rule over thee.
Genesis 3:17-19
King James Version
17 And unto Adam he said,
Because thou hast hearkened unto
the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree,
of which I commanded thee, saying,
Thou shalt not eat of it:
cursed is the ground for thy sake;
in sorrow shalt thou eat of it
all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles
shall it bring forth to thee;
and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,
till thou return unto the ground;
for out of it wast thou taken:
for dust thou art,
and unto dust shalt thou return.
Adam and Eve fell from grace.
That's probably the worst that can happen to any of us.
Through GOD's GRACE, we live, breathe, and thrive.
When we lose that grace, we are subject to Satan.
That's where the world is right now.
ESPECIALLY many rejected the Savior -- JESUS.
Even after He warned us of the end times.
Mark 1:15
King James Version
15 And saying,
The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye,
and believe the gospel.
But GOD continues to love us, despite our many faults.
And has given us the HOLY SPIRIT to teach us.
With the promise of JESUS' return.
First, with the Rapture.
And then, to vanquish evil, once and for all.
Through the Tribulation.
And His SECOND Coming.
We are not alone in this battle we've brought ourselves into.
JESUS gave us the "Comforter" -- the HOLY SPIRIT.
Only SPIRIT can help us understand GOD's WORD.
Whatever suffering we may be going through right now, we have Scripture to help us keep going.
Such as these comforting commands, challenges, and promises:
Matthew 18:3-4
King James Version
3 And said,
Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted,
and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore
shall humble himself as this little child,
the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 4:35-41
King James Version
35 And the same day,
when the even was come, he saith unto them,
Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude,
they took him even as he was in the ship.
And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind,
and the waves beat into the ship,
so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship,
asleep on a pillow:
and they awake him, and say unto him,
Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose,
and rebuked the wind,
and said unto the sea,
Peace, be still.
And the wind ceased,
and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them,
Why are ye so fearful?
how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly,
and said one to another,
What manner of man is this,
that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Matthew 24:13
King James Version
13 But he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved.
Romans 5:1-6
King James Version
5 Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith
into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed;
because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength,
in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 8:28-31
King James Version
28 And we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,
them he also called:
nd whom he called, them he also justified:
and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us?
Romans 12:9-21
King James Version
9 Let love be without dissimulation.
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business;
fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints;
given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you:
bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another.
Mind not high things, but condescend
to men of low estate.
Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you,
live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,
but rather give place unto wrath:
for it is written,
Vengeance is mine; I will repay,
saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him;
if he thirst, give him drink:
for in so doing thou shalt heap
coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome evil with good.
Romans 15:3
King James Version
3 For even Christ pleased not himself;
but, as it is written,
The reproaches of them
that reproached thee fell on me.
Romans 15:4
King James Version
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:10-11
King James Version
10 Neither murmur ye,
as some of them also murmured,
and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them
for examples:
and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Corinthians 10:13
King James Version
13 There hath no temptation taken you
but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make
a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it.
Colossians 1:9-14
King James Version
9 For this cause we also,
since the day we heard it,
do not cease to pray for you,
and to desire that ye might be filled
with the knowledge of his will
in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord
unto all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work,
and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might,
according to his glorious power,
unto all patience and longsuffering
with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood,
even the forgiveness of sins:
Hebrews 10:32-39
King James Version
32 But call to remembrance the former days,
in which, after ye were illuminated,
ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock
both by reproaches and afflictions;
and partly, whilst ye became companions
of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds,
and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods,
knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven
a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence,
which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that,
after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while,
and he that shall come will come,
and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith:
but if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them
who draw back unto perdition;
but of them that believe
to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 12:1-3
King James Version
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured
such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
James 1:2-4
King James Version
2 My brethren, count it all joy
when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith
worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing.
James 1:12
King James Version
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.
James 5:10
King James Version
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets,
who have spoken in the name of the Lord,
for an example of suffering affliction,
and of patience.
James 5:11
King James Version
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure.
Ye have heard of the patience of Job,
and have seen the end of the Lord;
that the Lord is very pitiful,
and of tender mercy.
James 5:13-15
King James Version
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.
Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you?
let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up;
and if he have committed sins,
they shall be forgiven him.
James 5:16
King James Version
16 Confess your faults one to another,
and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.
We can look forward to this, when suffering will finally end:
Revelation 21:1-4
King James Version
21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
for the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city,
new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people,
and God himself shall be with them,
and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,
nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:5-8
King James Version
5 And he that sat upon the throne said,
Behold, I make all things new.
And he said unto me,
Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me,
It is done.
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end.
I will give unto him that is athirst
of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things;
and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving,
and the abominable, and murderers,
and whoremongers, and sorcerers,
and idolaters, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death.
TURN to GOD, despite all your suffering.
Hold on fast to GOD's WORD.
Pray to be born again.
Have faith.
Have hope.
Have JESUS.
Hebrews 10:37-39
King James Version
37 For yet a little while,
and he that shall come will come,
and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith:
but if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them
who draw back unto perdition;
but of them that believe
to the saving of the soul.
Related material:
Verses on "endurance" from King James Bible Online
Image: Clipart Library
