The Benefit of Suffering
(Due 8:2~6)

People compare life to the sea of hardships. Everyone in the world cannot avoid hardships. People in the world are easily frustrated when they are in trouble. However, christians can have victorious life by look at Jesus who becomes the key to problems of life.

1. The training of the wilderness school
God trained Moses in the desert for 40 years. Moses who failed to help Israel people by himself was totally changed and became humble by being trained in the desert. He became kind and humble rather than being an arrogant person. God allows his people go through the desert. David and Paul went thought the school of desert to depend on God throughly. Likewise, the desert of hardships is not punishment but a place to teach about God-oriented life. Therefore, let us not be frustrated when in trouble. Rather, we should think Why God allows us to have hardships and live with Jesus-centered faith.

2. The grace of the Word
People cannot live in a desert where they cannot fill their needs. Therefore, people in desert can live with the grace of God. The Israel people in the desert was given grace of manna. When they were short of food in the desert, they started to complain to Moses. When we are in a desert , we should not listen to the words of people in the world. Instead, we should listen to the voice of God. The reason why God gave them manna was to teach the origin of life lies in the words of God, not in the bread. Let us not focus on the worldly manna. We should receive Jesus who becomes the words of God as well as the bread of life. Let us obey God instead of complaining about the hardships we face. Then, God will give us power and wisdom to overcome our hardships.

3. The blessings of the life revering God
God presents the promised land Canaan when we obey and honor God. The blessings of God are different from those of world. Having good results with hard working done by oneself is the blessing of the world while we enjoy the outcomes of God's hard working. This blessings are enjoyed by people who obey God. That's why God trains us in deserts. We cannot receive the blessings of God when we do something well. Whether we go through the desert full of hardship or whether we are in the promised land of Canaan, we should not forget to honor God. We should walk with God humbly to be blessed by God.