Are you Suffering

Are you Suffering?
Inside or Outside the Will of YHWH?

by Paul Sides

All too many times, we seem to see our "trials and tribulations" that we face during this life as "evil" or an indication that we are outside the Will of YHWH. This could not be further from the Truth. You see...

Isaiah 45:7 (King James Version)

7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I YHWH do all these things.

Now that we have the proper perspective of the source of all things... let us examine if suffering, trials, and tribulations mean we are outside the Will of YHWH or rather... right in the middle of His Will!

The Word specifically tells the sons of YHWH that they are destined during this lifetime to be trained through trials, tribulations, and suffering. Our Sabbath Rest is yet to come, this life is NOT our reward but rather our training for a greater purpose. And is is specifically through these intense times of trials and tribulations that we as sons are perfected. Yahshua was even perfected through a life on earth:

Hebrews 5:8-9 NKJV

⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected (through suffering), He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

If suffering is a sign you are outside the Will of YHWH... then Yahshua having been beaten and hung on a tree, suffering his entire life... must have been outside of YHWH's Will. However that is not the case. Yahshua suffered so that he may be perfected and his suffering was a direct result of his high calling as King of Kings and that required such extreme suffering. In fact, Yahshua's suffering was a direct result of being squarely within the Will of YHWH.

And what about Job? He suffered to a great degree and everyone around him cried out "repent you are outside the Will of YHWH" when in fact Job was not... he was being tested by YHWH because he was found FAITHFUL!. What was Job's reply when his wife tried to convince Job he was outside the Will of YHWH?

Job 2 (King James Version)

9Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

EXACTLY! Job understood YHWH had a purpose and in that purpose for his life was destined both good and evil and both worked together for his ultimate good! Remember... ALL THINGS work together for the good of those that love YHWH. Especially our trials and tribulations! As Paul knew full well, none of the men of YHWH every expected a rose garden ...

Romans 5 (King James Version)

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

So know we begin to understand the purpose of YHWH. We see that Yahshua was perfected through suffering. Paul rejoiced in it because it is YHWH training. It is NOT the good times, but the bad where we develop as sons! It provides opportunity for us to properly submit and once our power is broken for YHWH to act developing in us proven patience, experience, and hope in Him alone NOT money or our own strength.

I can not over stress the importance of suffering in our lives. It is the very PROOF we are sons of YHWH. Paul describes this in detail... Paul stresses that the FLESH (money, success, etc.) is NOT the point. It is the mechanism by which we are trained as Spiritual sons as we are tested with the flesh and disciplined to deny its blessings for a greater Spiritual purpose to test where our hearts are at relative to Him...

Romans 8 (King James Version)

12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Let me further stress this point. Suffering IS NOT as sign you are outside the Will of YHWH but rather squarely within it! And we are being disciplined to give this life up and set our minds on the Spirit and nothing you are facing in this life even comes remotely close to comparing with the GLORY that awaits us! This is the POINT! Remember, YHWH's blessings are SPIRITUAL! Satan is the god of this world his blessings are physical! Satan offered Yahshua the entire physical earth if he would abandon YHWH promises which were Spiritual King of Kings and High Priest. To get YHWH's promises Yahshua had to suffer his entire life and die. Why? Because he was a son!

Hebrews 12 (King James Version)

6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled

I could go on and on and on. But there you have it. If you are a son expect nothing more than trials and tribulations as they are evidence of your sonship. Not the other way around. And we should, per verse 15 above, see our suffering as evidence of sonship and NOT as though we are outside His Will lest we fail the grace of YHWH and bitterness springs up against Him and we become defiled.

King David understood this exact same thing I am saying to you now. Wealth and riches in this life are more of an indication you are not a son. Let us not misunderstand the source. Satan is the god of this world and he too gives blessings. And wealth and riches are the very source of rebellion and self reliance. Trials and tribulations turn our hearts toward our Father who is testing us, training us, and perfecting us through them:

Psalms 73 (King James Version)

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

I have yet to meet an earthly rich man who truly knows and serves YHWH. They are consumed with arrogance, self reliance, self will, and the last thing they consider is the source of their physical success and the meaning of their lack of Spiritual training as sons.

HBS,