Suffering and Love

Because of my love for you, Lord,
I have been mocked, cursed, and disgraced.
-Psalm 69:7 (TPT)


The suffering that we endure is sometimes because we love the Lord.  Loving God puts a target on us.

Part of the Christian life is suffering.

David suffered as he sought to do the job that God had given to him.  David had enemies everywhere who opposed what he was trying to do.  This is the way it will be for us too, and it is because we love the Lord.

Our love for the Lord makes us targets.

We have to learn how to live in Christ in the battle.

This is the answer to the question: "why is my life hard?"

The reason we suffer is because we love the Lord.

Every negative thing that happens to us is about our relationship with the Lord.

The question is, "Can I trust him with this problem?"

When I live in the reality that I will suffer because I love the Lord, I am encouraged to know that it is a privilege to have fellowship with the Lord in that suffering.

Question: "Why is this happening to me?"

Answer: "Will you trust me?"

Psalm 69:7.  Literally, he says: "I carry or bear humiliation on account of you and shame covers my face."

Different translated pieces of Psalm 69:7:

• We feel like idiots and are ashamed to show our faces (MSG).  
• Our faces are covered with confusion (AMP).  
• We are insulted and blush with shame (CEV).  
• We have borne reproach (ESV, NRSV).
• We have endured scorn (NIV). 
• We have received insults (HCSB). 
• We have been mocked and dishonored (ISV).
• For Your sake (NIV, ESV, NLT).
• Because of my love for you, Lord, I have been mocked, cursed, and disgraced (TPT).

Do you love the Lord?  That is the question.

We ask, "Why is this happening to me?"  The answer is, "Do you love the Lord?"

Yes I do.
__________________________________________________
TPT, The Passion Translation, by Brian Simmons