Suffering is quite painful and appears to be non-productive. We live in a culture where suffering is to be alleviated at all costs. Because it appears to be non-productive, untold millions is spent on trying to alleviate what seems to be senseless. And we are not just talking about physical suffering, there is also emotional and mental anguish than can almost trump anything physical. What does the Christian make of this?
The apostle Paul gives us another perspective on suffering that is not defined by a negative reaction because pain is ONLY perceived in a negative way. Paul answers very plainly the question, “Can anything good come out of suffering?”
Before we hear Paul’s answer, we have to ask ourselves, “Are we ready to hear his answer?” Sometimes, being in the middle of pain and suffering, we cannot see or hear Paul’s prescription. Perhaps his answer is more of journey, a journey that stretches out over time in which we are slowly prepared to see and accept the answer. Listen to his perspective:
“Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5).
Notice that Paul goes a step further than what we are often prepared to do. He says “rejoice”!? I think it would have been much easier for us to swallow if he had said, “tolerate.” But rejoice?! Yes, because we are aware of a divine, transformative process that comes about that ONLY suffering can produce: a formation of character that hangs on to hope because it is rooted in the gift of the Holy Spirit whom God has given us. It almost sounds like Paul is saying that suffering makes us aware of and rely on the gift of the Spirit whom God has poured out into hearts which is the medium and measure of His love.
Maybe, then, suffering is the process by which I am made aware of that which is more important than the pressing pain of the moment. It is often ONLY through pain and suffering that I am ready for God to do His greatest work in me and through me. Therefore, “we rejoice in our sufferings.”
The apostle Paul gives us another perspective on suffering that is not defined by a negative reaction because pain is ONLY perceived in a negative way. Paul answers very plainly the question, “Can anything good come out of suffering?”
Before we hear Paul’s answer, we have to ask ourselves, “Are we ready to hear his answer?” Sometimes, being in the middle of pain and suffering, we cannot see or hear Paul’s prescription. Perhaps his answer is more of journey, a journey that stretches out over time in which we are slowly prepared to see and accept the answer. Listen to his perspective:
“Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5).
Notice that Paul goes a step further than what we are often prepared to do. He says “rejoice”!? I think it would have been much easier for us to swallow if he had said, “tolerate.” But rejoice?! Yes, because we are aware of a divine, transformative process that comes about that ONLY suffering can produce: a formation of character that hangs on to hope because it is rooted in the gift of the Holy Spirit whom God has given us. It almost sounds like Paul is saying that suffering makes us aware of and rely on the gift of the Spirit whom God has poured out into hearts which is the medium and measure of His love.
Maybe, then, suffering is the process by which I am made aware of that which is more important than the pressing pain of the moment. It is often ONLY through pain and suffering that I am ready for God to do His greatest work in me and through me. Therefore, “we rejoice in our sufferings.”
In Christian love, Curtis
1 comment:
Dr. McClane,
In my preacherspeak, I would say this is confirmation of a situation I was dealing with the other day when a friend of mine came to my office and said she was ready to give up because of the suffering she was experiencing. I told her that our suffering in no determines how much God loves us. I am glad to see that I was on the right page.
thanks, Marc 2u
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