Six Truths for Times of Suffering

Posted on Categories Christian Living, Sean Perron

Updates: 

  • Yesterday I completed my 10th chemo treatment. Ten down, two to go! Praise the Lord! 
  • Chemo wipes me out, but the Lord is sustaining me. 

Prayer Requests and Praises:

  • Chemo becomes more difficult with each treatment. Please pray that my body will respond well, and my nausea will lessen for my final two rounds. 
  • Above all, please pray these last two rounds cure me from cancer and my next PET scan (at the end of February) will be completely clear! We want to return into “normal life” to do more ministry and grow as a family together in a more normal routine.  

What I am Learning: 

  • Early on in my treatments I read through the book of Philippians. Here are six truths from the final chapter which are encouraging for times of sufferings: 
  1. Suffering is an opportunity to expand my joy. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
  2. Suffering is an opportunity to pray and bring my fears to God with my thanksgiving. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
  3. Suffering is an opportunity for me to have more joy in knowing people are concerned and care about me. “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.” (Philippians 4:10)
  4. I can face suffering through Christ who gives me his power and strength.
    “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
  5. Suffering is an opportunity for the church to share in my trouble and show the kindness of Christ. “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.” (Philippians 4:14)
  6. God will richly give me everything I need to face suffering. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:19-20)

What Has Been Encouraging: 

  • I continue to be encouraged by your faithful prayers. Jenny and I both love hearing from you, and it is a blessing to know that you are on this journey with us through prayer.
  • There are many of you who are experiencing extreme trials, some more intense and extensive than my own. It is remarkable how God is sustaining you through His Spirit and by the power of His Word. I hear your stories of suffering and see that God is at work in your lives.
  • There is always someone who “has it worse” than we do or who is going through a more difficult challenge. God uses these stories of suffering to bring comfort to His people.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3–7)

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