Is it possible to have two truths that are opposite, yet both are still true? That’s not just a philosophical question, but one with important theological and practical implications.  Theologically, we know that Jesus was both God and man, but what about views of the Christian life that seem to be diametrically opposed, yet both are true?

For some, Christianity is about reaping the many physical as well as spiritual blessings God’s word apparently promises those who walk in his ways. For others the Christian life is not one of success, but of suffering, and life for these believers may be a hard one – especially if they are focused on fighting the sins and problems of the present evil world. But we can miss the point of Christianity if we live at either end of this spectrum. 

When we only focus on and seek the good things associated with the blessings of the Christian life, we can fall prey to the errors of unbiblical prosperity gospel teachings – and our Christian walk can become short-sighted and self-centered.  The truth is, true Christianity has always involved suffering for the sake of God or of others.  Jesus himself said that “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (John 16:33 NLT), and we can see this from one end of the New Testament to the other – from John the Baptist being thrown into prison and executed (Matthew 14:1–12) to the apostle John being reviled and banished to the Island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). Seen this way, Jesus’ primary command was “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

On the other hand, when we only focus on the suffering involved in Christian life – we can become discouraged and fail to appreciate the many things in life that God intended us to enjoy.  Jesus himself said that “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10), and the apostle Paul tells us that God is a God “who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17). Seen this way, walking with God is exemplified by the  Psalmist’s words “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

But these two approaches and attitudes are not really contradictory. The truth is, the Christian life involves both suffering and success, pain and blessing – and it is intended to be so.  

The same Jesus who said: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45), also said “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking” (Luke 7:34).

The same Paul who wrote: “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3), and “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him” (Philippians 1:29) also wrote “I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:23), and “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

So  there is no contradiction when Paul stresses both truths together: “we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17). And while we may tend to only think about the positive aspect of this statement as being in the future, other scriptures show that it also means now:  “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5). In fact, Paul repeats this idea of present suffering and blessing just two verses later “And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:7).

That is why Paul described himself to the Corinthians as “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).  As Christians, we suffer and we rejoice, we are afflicted and we are blessed. We ask for and receive blessings, yet we accept suffering when necessary to better walk with God and to serve others.  Any Christian life that only seeks blessing or suffering is not an authentic and true Christian life.  Any life that embraces both is truly Christian and truly blessed.

What one thing do you think almost all the men and women mentioned in the Bible as faithful followers of God had in common?  The answer – apart from the obvious one of their righteousness – was that they all are said to have had to wait.  We may not always think about this aspect of the lives of the spiritual “Hall of Fame” greats, but it is the one consistent trait of their stories.

Abraham and his wife Sarah waited for a son – God let them wait for twenty-five years until their waiting was eventually rewarded (Genesis 21:5). The same is true, of course, of Abraham’s waiting to inherit the land God promised him. Although he only received a small portion of it in his lifetime (Genesis 23:17-20), he was willing to wait faithfully for the fulfillment of the promise.  

The patriarchs descended from Abraham waited in the same way. Isaac waited twenty years for a son (Genesis 25:20), Jacob waited fourteen years for a wife (Genesis 29:18-30), and Joseph waited thirteen years – some of them in prison – before God brought him to the position of greatness he had promised him.

Moses waited forty long years in the wilderness before seeing the land God had promised. Joshua and Caleb waited in the wilderness, too, and then during the years of struggle before the promised land was finally taken.

David was anointed king years before he became king, but waited patiently till God brought his destiny about. In fact, David speaks often in his psalms about waiting – for example “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits … my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning” (Psalm 130:5-6 ESV).

We see many of the prophets of Israel and Judah having to wait  – sometimes even to hear God’s message (Jeremiah 42:7, etc.). The prophet Habakkuk was told regarding God's vision for him “If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed” (Habakkuk 2:3 NLT).

And we find many others who had to wait. The patriarch Job waited under great suffering till God healed and restored him (Job 7:3), and Noah, Daniel and other heroes of the Old Testament are all said to have waited.  

In the New Testament, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist,  had to wait till she was old to have a child. Simeon and Anna are said to have waited years to see the Messiah. Jesus himself had to wait some thirty years to begin his mission of salvation – and had actually waited for untold time since its planning (Revelation 13:8). The disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem before they could begin their Spirit-empowered ministry (Acts 1:4); Paul had to wait many times in his ministry (Acts 28:30; etc.); and you and I are told to “Wait patiently for the LORD … Yes, wait patiently for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14 NLT).

In our own lives we may have to wait for things we need and for things we long for – perhaps we are waiting for work, or for a husband or wife, or for needed healing, or something else.  It can be hard to continue to wait, especially when what we hope for seems nowhere in sight, but we should remember that we are not alone in our waiting.  God lets us all wait for something and rewards us when we seek him first and continue to trust him. As Jeremiah proclaimed: “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lamentations 3:25 ESV).

We may have to wait, but we should never give up the trusting expectancy God desires us to have. Just because a needed answer has not come yet, we should also not give up on praying for it. Jesus gave several parables to teach this, telling his disciples “that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1-8 NIV).

Above all, we need never doubt that while we wait, God works with us in mind – and he works to make things worth our waiting.  As the prophet Isaiah learned and confirmed for us, God is a God “who acts for those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4 ESV).