The Anointing of Suffering

Suffering. Trials. Adversity. Words we cringe at and circumstances we would avoid at all costs. However, while we desperately long to avoid difficulties, it is one of the clearest ways God refines, prepares, and sets apart.

Some of the most anointed people are ones who have greatly suffered.

Suffering’s Anointing
You may never have thought of suffering as a type of anointing. Seems contradictory, doesn’t it? It's tempting to think of suffering as God's punishment.

In the Old Testament, God anointed kings—His way of setting them apart for particular work. And I believe that suffering is one of God’s key forms of anointing believers today, preparing them for greater work.

This is backwards from the typical way we view suffering. We are quick, like Job’s friends, to self-righteously look on others who are suffering and ask, “Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.” (Job 22:5)

If we’re honest, I think we’re sometimes looking for a horrible reason that other people suffer and justification that we won’t suffer like them. The disciples did this when they asked Jesus if it was because of a man’s sin or his parents that he was born blind (John 9:2). Jesus’s response? “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (v. 3) Let’s not play God by assuming someone is suffering because of their sin.

Suffering’s Comrades
I don’t think I have to remind you of all the Scriptural examples of people who experienced significant suffering. Job. Joseph. David. Daniel. Paul. And countless others. Was it a form of discipline or punishment? Hebrews 11 tells us that it was a sign of their faith. This was God’s way of anointing and purifying His people.

Additionally, there are endless stories from history of Christians who suffered deeply. Hudson Taylor. John Patton. Charles Spurgeon. Elisabeth Elliot. Amy Carmichael. I could spend all day writing stories of the difficulties they encountered. Would anyone say it was because of his or her sin? Never!

We all long to be like these heroes of the faith. But in order to be like those saints, we would have to go through the depths of suffering that they faced. Most of us don't ponder what it took for them to become such great examples, and if we knew it all, we wouldn't choose to go through the same adversity. If you are in a season of testing through suffering, know that there are many others before you that God mightily prepared and anointed through suffering.

Suffering’s Fruit
Suffering, no matter the form, is unbelievably hard. But don’t fear suffering. Fear life going so well that you become self-reliant and independent, rendering you ineffective to love and serve those around you.

Your suffering is not wasted. It is God’s way of anointing and purifying you to prepare you for greater effectiveness. You may not even recognize the countless implications and fruit.

Your suffering produces endurance (Rom. 5:3-4).
Your suffering yields greater future glory (Rom. 8:18, Jam. 1:12, 1 Pet. 4:12-13).
Your suffering makes you a better comforter to others who are suffering (2 Cor. 1:4-5).

These are just a few examples of the fruit of suffering. Fruit you cannot produce on your own. The fruit that results from the anointing of suffering.