Suffering isn't for sissies, that's for certain. It's hard work and can take all of our energy just to endure.

For the child of God, suffering has many advantages.

First, the Lord gives strength to the weary.

Hear the words of Isaiah 40:31:

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

We are given grace to draw from the Lord's infinite resources to meet the challenge of the day.

We are given assurances from the Lord that even though we do not understand why our lives are unfolding as they are, that it will all make sense to us at the end.

Then there are the small reminders along the way that God has not forsaken us.

Perhaps it is someone phoning just to say hello and tell us they prayed for us today. Or a verse of Scripture leaps off the pages of the Bible to warm our hearts.

As our verses remind us, we have plain statements in the Bible that encourage us to keep on because the "appointed time" will surely come, and we will see the justice of the Lord revealed when Jesus returns.

We understand that the revelation lingers as our verses say, but "it will certainly come" because the sovereign Lord of all creation has made the promise. Nothing nor anyone can defeat the Lord's plans.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (NIV)