“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.“
Finish this sentence: “God blesses those who…” The first thing I think of is the non-biblical “God helps those who help themselves.” What a contrast to what this verse is actually saying. God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. We as Americans are trained to reduce suffering at all costs. We spend billions of dollars to eliminate anything unpleasant or uncomfortable in our lives. And yet, God blesses those who patiently endure.
The rest of the verse references a “crown of life” that God has apparently promised to us. But if you search the Bible for this phrase, you will only find it mentioned again in Revelation 2:10. So when did God promise this crown of life? And what exactly is it? This promise is perhaps best known in John 3:16, in which Jesus offers eternal life to all who believe in him. The Bible is full of references to God crowning his people, so regardless of the exact phrasing, we know that God has some pretty amazing rewards for those who love and follow him.
At no point does the Bible promise that God will remove suffering. But he will use it. He will reward it both on earth and eternally in Heaven. No matter how hard life is for you right now, God is fully aware of what you are going through. And he may be allowing your suffering because it puts you at a spiritual advantage. (Of course this does not include all kinds of suffering that we voluntarily sign up for by doing stupid things.) When you are being tested and tempted and you patiently endure without giving in, there is almost no spiritual victory that is greater. God’s going to turn that into something great in your life, just wait and see.