“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;” 1 Peter 4:12.

God will teach us from our trials but that doesn’t mean He sent them.   Just as our earthly parents teach us from our mistakes that does not mean they lead us into trouble just to teach us this lesson.  So often God is blamed for our suffering, the same suffering that He sent His Son Jesus to pay for on the Cross.  Jesus came to heal the oppressed of the devil not those oppressed by God.  God does not oppress but delivers from oppression.   It is only when we stop blaming God for our sufferings and start cooperating with His plan of redemption that we have the victory promised to us in His Word.  “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

God’s plan of redemption comes only through Jesus and His finished work on the Cross.  Only when the Gospel of Jesus is written on our hearts do we have dominion over the enemy.  When we understand all that was accomplished for us by Jesus on the Cross, there is no longer a question of what we get but a revelation of Who we get – God our Father and all of His Kingdom reconciled back to us for eternity.   Our focus is turned to Jesus and His sacrifice instead of our net gain; our focus is shifted from us to Him.

Once the revelation of Jesus and the Cross is written on one’s heart, we no longer accept the suffering of which Jesus has already paid.  We have the strength to overcome the temptation because His faithfulness to us has been revealed; we choose Jesus and not the enemy and the Lord faithfully equips.  Knowing the sacrifice made by the Lord gives us the boldness to reject the suffering He has suffered for us.

Sickness, sin and disease are not caused by God but He will help us get through them.  Praise God for His deliverance from our oppression and don’t blame Him.  There are plenty of unbelievers giving example of needless sufferings without Christians doing the same.  We are not promised a life without trials and tribulations but the needless sufferings being carried by the believer which does not glorify God is a suffering Jesus has already suffered on our behalf.  If our suffering does not manifest grace and cause thanksgiving to abound (2 Corinthians 4:15) and if the mortal death of our flesh is not working to bring life to others and provoke them to want to live for Jesus we are suffering in vain and negating the Cross of Jesus.

Never forget to remind the enemy what has been paid for and Who paid for it  – Jesus Christ and “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.  On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:14.