The Same Sufferings

The Same Sufferings

“Knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brethren in the world.” 1 Pet. 5:9. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal. 6:2. “Is there any affection . . . .” Phil. 2:1. “All of you . . . having compassion . . . .” 1 Pet. 3:8. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7.

We shall cast our own cares on Him, for He knows best what makes for our peace. On the other hand, we ought to take the others’ burdens, sufferings, and cares on us. This is the right thing to do; it is God’s will. Sin is the opposite of this; namely, to be occupied with one’s own cares and not think of the others’ cares. We are tempted to feel sorry for ourselves, even thinking that we are worse off than most other people, even all the others. You can often hear one person say to another, “It’s easy for you,” and “No one has to go through what I have to go through.” However, if we had believed the Word, we would have known that all the others were in the same situation.

It is quite sickly to react in that way, for it is the way of ruin. But the opposite, casting all your cares on Christ, believing that the same sufferings are experienced by all the brethren, in addition to helping to bear their burdens and cares, that is healing—and the way of life.

When you believe and love, fully convinced that all the brethren have the same sufferings, you are interested in finding the brethren in order to suffer and bear with them. To your own surprise you will find them so much more easily, and many more than you had ever imagined possible. Try, and you will see and know what you have never before seen and known! In this way your heart will become tender, and you will find a word of edification, comfort and guidance more easily than before!

Think of one person after another; put yourself into their situation and difficulties. Even the person of whom you imagined it least has some of what is called (according to 1 Peter 5:7) “all your care.”