Imaginary or Exaggerated Sufferings Some suffering is very real. But how often do pride, self-pity, fear, and ingratitude cause us to imagine suffering that isn't there, or exaggerate the trials that are? Eve focused on the one thing withheld instead of God's abundance. She imagined herself deprived and abused. Elijah believed he alone was left. Jacob cried, "All these things are against me," when God was actually working for his deliverance. And there are many other examples. Modern culture can make this worse: correction becomes "abuse," disagreement becomes "gaslighting," discomfort becomes "unsafe," and ordinary hardships become "trauma." The Bible gives another way: humility, sobriety, faith, and thanksgiving. In earlier generations, many Christian families regularly read the Bible together, along with accounts of the sufferings and sacrifices of Christians found in works such as "Foxe's Book of Martyrs." Such examples helped put ordinary trials into perspective and guarded against whining, self-pity, and imaginary or exaggerated sufferings. But today's modern religion of psychology and self-help - so often encouraging or increasing a victimhood mentality - can pour gas on the flames of pride and self-pity!
30 Aug 2026
The Gospel Christian
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