2 Timothy 1:12 “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

OLD HYMNS

If you have any church experience you probably recognize the last half of that verse as a hymn you sang in church. “For I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.” Daniel Whittle wrote this hymn back in 1883. Check out the full hymn with this link. http://www.hymnary.org/text/i_know_not_why_gods_wondrous_grace_to_me

But I am curious why he left out the first half of the verse in the hymn. If he was like me, he probably didn’t want to talk much about suffering. Who does? Paul knew suffering, but he tells Timothy here that he is NOT ashamed of it. Then he tells him why in the last half of the verse. Are you ashamed of the suffering the Lord allows you to go through? Don’t be. It is all for a purpose.

TEACHING MOMENT

But how in the world do we teach our children the value of suffering? I mean, who wants to see their children suffer? No one does. But when it comes, and it will, embrace it. What? I mean remember the last part of this verse. He is able to keep us! We can’t keep ourselves. Our children have to learn that, and the only way is to go through the suffering.

Are you suffering right now? What is the Lord allowing you to learn right now in the midst of your suffering? What are others, especially your children, learning by watching you go through sufferings? Now that is the real question, isn’t it? Do others see Jesus in you? Do others see you trusting Him faithfully. Your faith does not come of yourself. Faith comes from trusting HIS faithfulness. He will never leave you or forsake you. Remember that!