Meditating on John Calvin's Quote on Suffering Before the Completion of Joy!

The statement by John Calvin above is indeed true.  Living in a sinful world means that before a Christian can truly grasp the meaning of joy, they must at first be submitted to supreme suffering.  This is really the perseverance of the saints that though they may at times fall away, but they do not fall away completely but instead, by God's grace they will endure to the end.  I refuse to take credit for power against sin except it be from the Savior from sin, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Although it's only normal for a Christian to feel the pain that their life is becoming more and more complicated, here are some verses to consider:

Matthew 5:11-12 says, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."  

1 Peter 1:3-8 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

James 1:2-3 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

I remembered the time I would complain about why my life just got complicated, life was no longer easy and I soon wanted to ask God why He allows evil to exist.  But as said, His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8) as He has a purpose for everything.  Romans 8:28 encourages Christians to really see the fact that when He allows suffering and pain, there is a purpose and it's for His greater glory.  Remember the fifth Sola says Soli Deo Gloria or Glory to God Alone.

The glory of the Christian is not in the greatest times but in the toughest times.  It is during the toughest times that the Christian knows more of God's holiness and majesty.  It reminded me how often that though life is unfair but God is good.  God is so good He knows that His children will only be stronger and humbler in trials, it's much easier to stay faithful to God in trials than in the times of prosperity just like how only by fire can gold be purified and only by proper cutting can a diamond shine brighter.  Likewise, Christians are in the process of perfection, perfection is the standard and God will do anything to make His better, because He knows best that those who are His are going to endure to the end by His grace.