But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

— 2 Corinthians 11:3

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

— Romans 6:16

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope

21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

— Romans 8:20-21

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

— Psalm 34:18

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

— James 4:8

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

What are God’s purposes in life’s hardships for His children? In the Fall, humanity surrendered lordship of our lives to the evil one by choosing to sin, and with sin suffering came into the world. Rebellion against God resulted in separation from Him and brought incalculable pain to creation. Whether persecution, poverty, wars, famine, abuse, neglect, or disease, suffering’s groan of despair is now as natural to the world as childbirth.

Taunts, threats of violence, selfishness, indifference, hunger, bullying, isolation, and scheming emerge vividly today in the world we believer live in. And suffering comes as a consequence of sin’s presence in our world
because sin disrupted the original harmony of creation, separating humanity from God and introducing brokenness, decay, and moral corruption into the world. But God can accomplish His purposes through our suffering. Whether a means of discipline or a call to prayer, suffering offers an opportunity to seek God and draw close to Him.