Sanctification Through Suffering

I have been thinking a lot lately about suffering as God's means for sanctification.  Titus 2:11, 12 says,


"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age..."


The question I ask is, "how does the grace of God train us to renounce sin and live godly (sanctification)?  I believe that in large part, this happens through suffering.  That is why James says, 


"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)


These trials of various kinds (suffering) are used by God to produce steadfastness, which eventually leads to being perfect and complete (i.e. being done with sin).  James is describing how suffering leads to sanctification, which thankfully, one day, will result in glorification.


Sometimes we suffer as a result of sin in which the resulting consequences are used by God to sanctify us.  I believe that God also allows suffering to keep us from sin.  Peter implies this when he says,


"Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God." (1 Peter 4:1-2)


And finally, Paul reminds us that our, "light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:17) 


God is pleased to prepare His children for glory through suffering.  Compared with eternity with God in all of His glory, these afflictions are light and temporal.  May God continue to give His church grace to embrace seasons of suffering, knowing they are essential in our sanctification.