Today on Summit Life with JD Greer.

Sometimes God breaks you because he wants you to learn to trust in him.

And the affliction is not punishment.

The affliction is simply saying, hey, I'm trying to get your attention to tell you that I'm enough

and that's why I'm allowing this pain.

So when you're flat on your back, you'll be looking the right direction.

Welcome back to Summit Life with Pastor, author, and theologian JD Greer.

I'm your host, Molly Bitovich.

Okay, I know it might not sound very comforting, but we really don't always know how God is actually working in our suffering.

However, we do know from the Bible that we can trust in two things.

First, the cross shows us that he hasn't forgotten us.

And second, the resurrection shows us that he always finishes what he has started.

And today, Pastor JD reminds us how and why we can have joy in the midst of our suffering.

Are you finding yourself deep in pain or trouble?

May this teaching be an encouragement to you right now.

So let's rejoin Pastor JD where he left off yesterday in Romans chapter 5 with a message he called, this changes everything.

Paul says Romans chapter 5 verse 3, not only that, but we even rejoice in our afflictions because we know that affliction produces endurance.

You see that phrase and you're like, rejoice in my afflictions.

What on earth would that mean? Is Paul some kind of masochist where he rejoices in pain for pain's sake or feels like it shows people how tough he is and how righteous he is?

No, this is rejoicing in affliction because you know that affliction, no matter how bitter,

no matter how terrible is producing something in you that is of greater value than even a pain-free life would be.

Listen, Christians are not stoics. A lot of people get this confused.

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