THE MYSTERY OF SUFFERING
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the
painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the
sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (I Peter 4:12-13, NIV)
Suffering is very hard to understand. If anyone had told
me that I would have a chronic illness at the age of thirty, I would have laughed in their face. I didn’t know what
a chronic illness was, let alone anybody who had one. Does God have lessons to teach us through our suffering? I believe He
does. C. S. Lewis says, “God whispers to us in our conscience, speaks to us in our joys, and shouts to us in our pain.”[1]
Why does God need to get our attention? One reason, I believe, is to reveal to us more about who He is.
Elizabeth Elliot, in her tapes “Suffering is Not
for Nothing”, defines suffering as “having what you don’t want, or wanting what you don’t have.”[2]
This pretty much sums it up. I have something that I don’t want, a chronic illness. You may also have something that
you don’t want, but God doesn’t give us a choice in the matter. The good news is, as Elizabeth Elliot goes on
to say, “It’s through the deepest suffering that God has taught me the deepest lessons.”[3] I can say that
has been very true in my life, as well.
I have come to know God in a deeper way through my suffering.
Before this illness, my roots in Him were shallow, now they are more deeply embedded in His promises. I have had to depend
on Him over and over again, for strength and grace to make it through each day, and the Lord has never failed me. I have learned
so much more about God’s character than I could ever have learned if I had been well. I also know that God has been
with me in my suffering, whereas before this disease, I sometimes questioned His presence.
Do you feel alone today? Are you despairing because of
your circumstances? Are you tempted to give up? “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never
let the righteous fall” (Psalms 55:22). Lean on Christ. He has allowed this suffering for a reason, and His plan for
our lives is so much bigger than our plans.
Dear Jesus – It’s very hard sometimes
to persevere, especially when we can’t see the end in sight. Please help us, Lord, to lean hard on You and not give
up. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[1] Elliot, Elizabeth. Suffering is Not for Nothing.
(Ligonier Ministries, 1996).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid
