Suffering

When do we truly grow as individuals and as a people? It's not when we accumulate more and more possessions or when we are in greater comfort. Growth happens in the struggle to do what is right-that's when we grow both as an individual and as a people.
In Isaiah 5:11-15, the prophet expounds on the state of the Israelite people by examining their mindset. Isaiah ominously warns that destruction is coming to those who rise up early to pursue strong drink. This strong drink is not alcohol or a drug, it's the lust and pleasure driven mindset of the individual and the people. A type of behavior so strong that it removes the Israelites form anything remotely associated with the God of their ancestors; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They go after their lust with great passion and vigor until it consumes them or completely embodies them, so that they lose all remembrance of who they truly are-Gods' holy people.   
And they pursue their pleasures with such joy as if they were at a party filled with music, laughter, dancing, and drinking. Yet, the prophet continues, Israel never stopped to regard the consequences of departing form God, nor do they consider the operations that God is doing among them and the world because of it. Therefore,  they are blind to the knowledge of God and their duty to Him as they pursue their pleasure and desires.
For this reason hell is unleashed on them suddenly and would continue throughout the ages until they return to God. This explains most of our history today and why evil happens to us- the lost of our homeland Israel, the fall of our cities and states in Africa, Spain and parts of Europe, Yemen, the Americas. And the daily persecutions we endure from those that hate us. Isaiah prophesied that no one would be spared in Gods' judgement. The curse would pursue all Israel from generation to generation until we humble ourselves and submit to God in truth.
Today we, the descendants of Israel, must read the words of the prophets and reflect deeply on them and learn form the mistakes of the past( 1 Cor. 10:11). We must forsake these past errors of pursuing our own lust and ways. We must seek to learn the will of God and what is pleasing to Him through study and prayer. This will take self-denial and self-discipline in forgoing sinful urges that separates us form God-and it will hurt. You will have to suffer in the process of giving up the pursuit of your carnal desires( remember, we do things we enjoy, not what we hate). This process is different for each of us, as every man has his own sin that easily captivates him( Heb. 12:1). It could be as simple as abstaining form poor food choices that harm your health or abstaining from unclean meats we once enjoyed out of ignorance,  or it could be the pull of another god or religion you've known for generations in your family or community and now you must decide to follow God according to the truth of the Bible, or it could be ceasing from adultery or whore-mongering. Whatever the case may be, it has to end. And it will hurt psychologically or spiritually as you separate yourself from sin. But, if you endure the suffering as Christ did when He had to give up his life under the cruelty of wicked people in order to do what is right, then you too will achieve spiritual growth and victory with God the Father( 1 Peter 4:1-4). Christ was transformed from a natural state to a supernatural spiritual state and received the highest honor in Heaven and on earth-He received the title of Son of God and kingship of all the universe(1 Cor. 15:45, 1 Tim. 6:13-16). If we suffer in doing what is righteous as God commands, then we too will be reward for our efforts at the end of Gods' great work among humanity, even the redemption of our souls from the curse(Matt. 16:24-27).

Meditate on the following verses, Brothers and Sisters, to grow and overcome:
Col. 3:1-10

Knowledge is freedom and obedience is victory and suffering is redemptive!

Shalam,
Zarach