DOES FAITH AND SUFFERING COME TOGETHER?

02- 14- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Hebrews 11:31- 40)
DOES FAITH AND SUFFERING COME TOGETHER?
31- “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32- And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33- Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34- Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35- Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36- And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37- They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, 38- (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39- And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40- God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
Does faith and suffering come together? Are they siblings or husband and wife? It’s interesting that when an individual come to Christ by faith for salvation, after that comes the trials and sufferings. Here in our text, we can see how these people were able to go through suffering and pain while at the same time exercising their faith in God. I call them the conquerors and the over comer. They conquered and were able to overcome all kinds of hurdles, persecution and suffering for the sake of Christ. They went through a lot and it was something that some of the Christians of this present time could not even stand and may not even go through. It’s very unfortunate that we all have faith but we don’t stand for God in times of suffering. As believers, your faith and suffering means success and blessings especially if you endure the tribulation by the grace of God. During the times of the prophets and the Old Testament Christians; the swords, the fire, the lions and the mocking and the stones are part of their being the servants of God. (Philippians 1:28- 30) 28- “And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29- For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30- Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”