Encouragement Through Suffering

Have you ever felt as though you have suffered injustice alone and unnoticed? Feelings of hurt seem to demand justice. Hopelessness and loneliness begs heaven for relief. During these painful, hurtful, lonely times, what seems like silence from heaven can be deafening.
If this is presently your current situation, rest assured, you are not alone. I have suffered this and it has been so painful that it was literally overwhelming at times.  However, the truth is that the Lord does see our suffering, and He will not allow it to go unanswered. He will see justice done, though perhaps not at the time or manner we may prefer.  The pain we suffer, though it may feel overwhelming, will not go unseen. If we allow God to work, these experiences can be the means by which God brings us His greatest blessings.
We can look to Jesus who had to endure the greatest injustice ever suffered. No one was and is ever more innocent than Him. Let’s ponder on how Jesus conducted himself during that awful time of persecution.  He knew he would not receive justice from men and he accepted it. He spoke the truth in love and refused to allow anger and bitterness distract anyone from seeing it.
Peter wrote to persecuted Christians,” For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God” (1 Peter 2:20). What can we learn from this today? Speak the truth, in love and without apology. Keep in mind that by doing so you could suffer.  We must also always quietly and calmly submit ourselves completely to the sovereign will of the Lord and trust in Him completely.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. (Psalm 35:17-20).