The School of Suffering

“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  II Corinthians 12:9

The Apostle Paul had some type of physical impairment or spiritual battle that plagued him.  He prayed three times for the Lord to remove it, but God replied that this weakness was actually an aid in his spiritual growth because it increased his dependence on the Lord.  Sometimes God uses suffering as a wake-up call to draw unbelievers to Himself.  However, it is the suffering of the saints that clouds our understanding of a merciful and righteous God.  Many who are deeply committed to Christ, serving and obeying, do not expect to suffer and go through trials, but find, in reality, that Christians do suffer sometimes more than those living apart from God.  Why did that godly mother of four get cancer?  Why did that young man who had such potential for making a difference for Christ in the lives of others die in the prime of life?  Why was that missionary who had devoted his life on the foreign mission field murdered by those he served?  As far as our faith is concerned, this is where “the rubber meets the road”, the “moment of truth”.

I believe that there are three main reasons why Christians suffer.  The first relates to the above verse.  Sometimes suffering comes to make us stronger, as in Paul’s case, to make us more equipped to face the future, and to be a help to others who similarly suffer.  Without some adversity in one’s life, one is not prepared to handle difficult circumstances when they do come, and they will.  The second reason is to get our attention.  When things are going well with us, we have a tendency to get a little lazy in our relationship with our Creator.  But when trouble comes, we run back into the arms of Jesus where we should abide in the good times as well as in times of trouble.

The third reason may not really have anything to do with us.  It may be to manifest God’s glory as in the account of the man born blind in John 9:1-41.  The bottom line, though, is that sometimes there is not answer to suffering this side of heaven.  Whatever the reason, God knows what He is doing.  James 1:3-4 tells us that trials which involve our faith helps us to gain patience, and that patience works to make us complete and entire so that we are ready for whatever comes our way.