How to be a Silent Sufferer

Difficult times come, and often they start with the mouth of those who don’t appreciate us. We can spout back, or we can take it.

What? Absorb criticism? It’s a lesson I learned years ago from a testimony in the Bible. We are looking at testimonies in Ps. 119. The word is used 23 times in there. Testimonies are the stories we learn from.

To this day, if I can’t take suffering, then I didn’t really learn the most important testimony I can think of from the Bible.

Curious?

Psalms 119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.	One testimony that comes to mind that I took as a heritage or possession more than 25 years ago is 1Pe 2:20-23  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  (21)  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  (22)  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  (23)  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: A boss treated me unjustly, and Christ’s testimony came to my rescue. Even to today, I commit myself to him that judgeth righteously, and it helps me to be a “silent sufferer.”
Psalms 119:119  Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.	One of God’s testimonies is that he does put away the wicked like dross. He removes them. Think of the Egyptian army that drowned in the parted Red Sea, or in Esther’s day, think of the wicked Haman. The verse says God puts away all the wicked of the earth. There will come a day when all the wicked are put away like dross or scum formed on the surface of molten metal. That thought made David love God’s testimonies. God has put the wicked away before, he’ll do it again. Some day there will be no more sin.
Psalms 119:125  I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.	What an awesome verse. I can read, enjoy, remember and recount the stories of the Bible. But what I need is to understand, recognize, perceive, discern or distinguish how the lessons of those stories apply.  When I know that, I will know God. I’ll recognize how he works and how he responds. His testimonies teach me those things.