Hebrews11:32-38 Victory in Suffering - Devotional Scripture

 

Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith. It lists many men and women who showed faith in God and His promises. The list goes on and on and then the writer says:

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Hebrews 11:32-34

When I read these verses I want to rejoice because there was victory, power and deliverance shown to the faithful servants of the Lord.  And then I read on:

. . . and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.  Hebrews 11:35b-38

I find myself wanting to experience the victory that shuts the mouth of lions and escapes the edge of the sword but I waver at experiencing the victory that comes from mocking, hardships and affliction.  Both are part of God’s plan for my life and both run through His fingers of love before they hit my life.

Those that experienced victory through affliction were able to stand firm in their faith because they had eternity stamped upon their hearts and they knew that what they would receive later far exceeded anything in this life. They didn’t fall into the trap of loving their life more than loving God. They didn’t get so entangled in this life as to lose focus on what is to come. God became their All-Sufficient One and that is something to rejoice in and desire in my own life.

Trials and sufferings are part of God’s plan and part of His grace. He uses suffering to test us to see if we really believe what we say we believe. He uses suffering to refine and purify us. Peter tells us the proper way to respond to suffering is to stand firm in your faith. Stand firm in who you believe in and what you know to be true about God. Then, God will be glorified and you will be strengthened and firmly planted in Jesus and His word.