LIFE’S GREATEST TEACHER

My experience of suffering is shaped by my

Western values lead us to assume the aim of life is and . 

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 (CSB)

Suffering is one of the main ways God works His deeply into our lives

Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. 

Genesis 29:16 (NLT)

behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25 (NKJV)

When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive. So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.” 

Genesis 29:31-32 (NLT)

Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!” Genesis 30:8 (NLT)

Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. She named him Zebulun, for she said, “God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons.” Genesis 30:19-20 (NLT)

Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Genesis 30:22-23 (NLT)

After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!”  Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). Genesis 35:17-18 (NLT)

A life of ease will keep you

The greatest enemy to your freedom is . 

We and through meeting Jesus in our pain