The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 23:4-5 (HCSB)
4 Don't wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it.
5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 55:22 (HCSB)
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
The Word of God for encouragement:
2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (HCSB)
6 For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me,
7 especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself.
8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.
9 But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.
10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
My observation:
I am not an expert in the School of Suffering. However, I have attended this school for most of my life. There are lessons that I have learned in this school that will last not only for this life, but for eternity. If you have the right perspective on suffering, it can be your friend and not your foe.
Think about the suffering that Paul faced. Think about his sincere and fervent prayer for help with the thing that was causing him to suffer.
2 Corinthians 12:8 (HCSB)
8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.
In addition to Paul's experience with praying about his suffering, we have the example of Jesus.
Luke 22:42 (HCSB)
42 "Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me—nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."
God had a purpose in the suffering of Paul, and God had a purpose in the suffering of Jesus. God has a purpose in your suffering. Look for God's hand and help when you go through the School of Suffering.
"We must form our estimate of men less from their achievements and failures and more from their sufferings" - - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Does God hear your prayers when you call upon him when you are suffering? My answer is, "Yes, and Amen".
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that I can rest in the assurance that you know the most and care the most. When I am suffering, I know that there is a purpose in the pain.
When I am suffering, I can rest in the precious and powerful promise that I can rely upon Your strength, and all sufficient grace. In Jesus name, Amen.
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3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
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