In our humanness, the thought of suffering is troubling! Nonetheless, suffering will come to all of us while living on fallen planet earth. Jesus said, “In this world, you will have tribulation, but fear not I have overcome the world”. Our “natural man” is afraid of undergoing hardships because we feel the experience of suffering might be too overwhelming and more than we can bear. Yet, when we face the truth that our faithful God desires to help us overcome pain and unhappiness through the power of His Truth, love and grace we will not remain trapped and shackled by our fear. When we face the reality of our hard times, we will discover the Truth that Jesus is the Way that transforms our sorrows into joy! Even though the Bible clearly teaches that God will work good out for us and in us, as the pressure of suffering drives us into His sheltering arms, it is still hard to grasp that anything positive can come out of something that feels bad. The experience of suffering always causes change- we will become better or bitter, depending on what we choose to do with our pain. If we choose to resist running into the shelter of Jesus’ arms to rescue us, we will get stuck in pride (thinking we know better), bitterness, or self-pity. This state can easily turn us into negative thinkers with a cynical, doom-and-gloom world view. On the other hand, if we choose to humble ourselves and surrender our struggling hearts to Jesus, we will find grace to help in our time of need. During suffering, if we choose to stand beneath the cross in Jesus shadow, as He comes close to our heart, we will abide with Him, and fear will loses its power. We will be able to go beyond the feelings of being shackled and trapped in our hardships. While suffering with Jesus beneath the cross, we will discover a spiritual home and rest for our heart and soul from the heaviness of our burdens. Then through the power of the Holy Spirit’s love our suffering transforms into joy! We are lifted into a larger spiritual place! This spiritual transformation and evolution contributes to our on-going conversion of heart, soul, and mind- growing in faith and dependence on God. As we cling to Jesus for help through suffering, sooner or later the experience and reality of God’s powerful love and the presence of the Holy Spirit will grow in our hearts. We will understand we are not alone, the suffering Savior is with us and will help us face the struggle, as we surrender it all to Him. Remember that God is a partner in our suffering and that all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose. Through the transforming power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit our sufferings can be turned into glorious joy!
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time [this present life] are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!”(Romans8:18).
