Victory over Christian suffering

Christian suffering for doing what is right includes resisting temptations to sin, self-denial, trials, tribulation, hardships, shame, and various other troubles excluding sickness. The suffering is real and great. But it is possible to gain victory of this kind of suffering. The victory comes along the line of adopting the right kind of mental attitude towards suffering. Right attitude in suffering may not bring the suffering to an end but it will nevertheless bring victory over the discouragement, despondency and depression that are usually attached to suffering. 
The positive attitude towards suffering is stimulated by a number of factors.
 Firstly, the knowledge that God is well-pleased when you suffer for doing what is right. A true Christian is prepared to suffer for doing God’s will even to the point of being a martyr.
Secondly, the divine promise of a reward in the form of a crown of glory and honour at the second coming of Christ is an incentive enough to encourage Christian sufferers to go through their trials with a right perspective of mind. Thirdly, the knowledge that other Christians are going through the same hardships and trouble is encouragement enough to a suffering believer. Solitary suffering may induce suspicion and doubt over the goodness, fairness and justice of God.
But when you are aware of the comforting words of Peter: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” you know and accept your suffering as something common to the whole community of Christians. Moreover, we have many examples in Scripture of those who have suffered similar things before.
The other factor affecting the development of a positive attitude in the mind of a suffering Christian is the divine promise to be with us always, to be our very present help in trouble and to allow nothing more than we can bear to befall us. Peter, the apostle of suffering, admonishes Christians suffering according to the will of God to commit the keeping of their souls to him as unto a faithful Creator. Why not be positive when you know that God will keep you from all evil and all harm? Why not be positive when you know that nothing happens to you by accident but that even suffering is allowed by God for a good purpose and when the purpose is accomplished it will cease? These factors and many others, if known, trusted and assimilated into one’s faith result in the development of a powerful positive attitude that will victoriously carry us through any kind of suffering for what is good. 
The manifestations of a positive attitude in suffering come in various forms. The chief one is rejoicing or exulting. This one is difficult to understand and to practice. How can one who is bearing a load of suffering, and unjustly so, rejoice? This is possible even though it is not easy. That is what a positive, well-informed mind can do. When you count yourself worthy and privileged to suffer for and with Christ you can afford to rejoice in the midst of suffering. In Acts 5:41 the apostles were beaten for preaching in the name of Christ but they went away rejoicing counting themselves worthy to suffer shame for and with Christ.
 Peter admonishes us to be very glad, to be happy when we suffer for Christ. Jesus, in the beatitudes, calls those who suffer for doing good blessed, that is, happy, fortunate or enviable. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake . . . Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad . . .  , ” (Matthew 5:10-12). Apostle James echoes the same sentiments when he commands us to count it all joy when we face various kinds of temptations. When you learn to rejoice, to be very glad and to be happy in suffering you confuse the devil. Satan wants you to be sad, to wallow in self-pity, to complain and to eventually curse God and die. When you rejoice the devil will depart from you.
Positive attitude also gloriously manifest in patient endurance of suffering. When a Christian passes through a rough patch gracefully and patiently God is glorified but the devil is baffled. For instance God was well pleased by Job’s patience in suffering the attacks of the devil. Job won victory over his untold suffering because of patient endurance.
Walking in love, faith, hope and truth without becoming upset and uptight in your time of suffering for what is good will never fail to gain you enviable victory. Joseph could forgive his erring and jealous brothers because he had learned the secret of walking in love, truth and forgiveness. The truth he came to know was that God had meant for good what his brothers had meant for evil.
Make no mistake about it: truth and love will always triumph. These elements of rejoicing, love, faith, hope, endurance and patience make up the positive mental attitude that is unfailing in bringing victory over suffering. Incorporate them into your life and rejoicing in suffering will become common to you.
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