Suffering Intentionally
Lately I’ve been pondering the concept of suffering.
We obviously have a God who understands suffering. Christ experienced so much agony throughout His life on earth. Our Lord is truly capable of comprehending hardship—regardless of what it might be. Darkness has pierced His Sacred Heart and humanity’s sin has wounded His flesh. He has had to combat temptation. He has grieved the loss of loved ones. Clearly, He has undergone and endured intense hurt.
Even still, we so often fail to bring our fear, ache, and frustration to God. We allow ourselves to fall into despair, wallowing in negativity and clinging to hurt. It is not rare for us to deny joy and hope, choosing to embrace darkness.
Jesus did not offer Himself on the Cross just for us to adhere to dull anguish, though. He did not suffer incomprehensible torment just for us to become comfortable in our discouragement. Christ allowed Himself to become a testament of hope. He overcame sin and hurt and devastation to emphasize God’s goodness and His capacity to heal and restore.
Not only does suffering have the potential to draw us closer to Christ, but it can also purify us. When we aim to unite ourselves to Christ through our pain, we invite God to refine us. His mercy fills in the gaps of our humanity. His perfection smooths over our brokenness. It is in our pain, grief, exhaustion, and confusion that He works the greatest wonders for His glory.
When we get consumed in turmoil and negativity, we are tempted to succumb to hopelessness. We lose sight of goodness, becoming chronic complainers and weary grumblers that are constantly restless in mediocrity. However, we are able to gather ounces of hope and joy when we trust in the goodness of the Father, even in the midst of affliction.
When we approach our sorrow with intention, we are able to encounter grace and exultation within it. Deliberately accepting our suffering fruitfully and intricately molds us into saints.
Friend, when life gets messy, I pray that you may allow our God to transform that mess into something beautiful and wonderful; because suffering that is offered to our Lord cannot be wasted.