purpose in suffering

Where do you connect most with people— in joy or through suffering? I would suggest that it’s through walking long, hard roads, bearing one another’s burdens, and sharing in struggles that we connect most meaningfully with others. At the end of ourselves we search for some sort of anchor, a glimmer of hope, and find it alongside community. Hebrews 6:19-20 describes this hope as accessible, firm, and secure. I would suggest that just as earthly relationships are fortified by trials so is our relationship with the Lord. Similarly, it’s at that low point, the place of utter desperation, where we crave more than what our knowledge, relationships, experiences, & abilities have to offer. We desire supernatural intervention, aid, & partnership. And maybe as you read that sentence you were for the first time given words to the deep longing in your soul.

The Lord will always find a way to capture your attention. Sometimes the Holy Spirit moves radically in our lives, we are prompted to take action, and we obey joyfully and willingly. Other times, we are more resistant, clinging to our desires rather than His promises. Maybe you’re stubborn & refuse to accept help or you’re hesitant to lean on others. I get it! That’s me! I don’t like to ask for help, no matter how much I may need it. I’m independent and want to feel self-sufficient but that becomes dangerous when those tendencies creep in to my spiritual life.

I can think of two specific instances where pain has led to growth::

1. During my senior year of high school, I tore my hamstring & which required reattachment surgery. That injury totally disrupted the plans I had for myself, especially pertaining to my athletic performance. Looking back, more than anything else, I see the Lord’s kindness. Turns out I was actually blinded to my own sin, PRIDE. I placed my identity in the things I could accomplish in my own power (which is just sooo tiny compared to His incomprehensible might!!). The physical injury forced me to take the necessary step back to see my shortcoming. The Lord broke my heart over my sin, and I learned just HOW MUCH greater & capable He is than me. How does this display kindness?? Because after my genuine repentance & pursuit of humility, my leg healed & I got to perform in my spring dance performance AND made it to state semi finals in doubles for tennis. Did the Lord owe me that experience? No. Did I deserve it? Nope. His purpose was REFINEMENT. He was making me look more like Him because through the pain He still proved faithful. He provided the healing & strength I needed as well as the performance I desired. More than proof of my hard work this was a testament of the Lord’s compassion, friendship, and kindness.

2. Interestingly enough, I recently had a freak accident while using a steamer that resulted in a pretty bad 2nd degree burn. The burn was obviously very painful and has significantly limited my mobility over the past week. Just as He did three years ago, the Lord is using my limitations to stretch my understanding of His character. Right now, I believe the Lord is asking me to surrender the plans I have for my future and to totally trust Him. If I had to sum up this lesson in a word it would be:: dependence.

I usually walk anywhere from 2-5 miles per day commuting from class and work to home, so I’ve had to depended on my roommates A LOT for transportation. I’ve also realized how desperately I need the Lord when it comes to even the smallest things like strength for each day and patience with difficult people and discipline for school. Most times I don’t ask for help because I want to be perceived as strong, but the thing is:: weak is a good place to be for the believer. In 1 Corinthians 12:9 Jesus says “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” DONT MISS THIS !! Paul’s response is this: “So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” Wow! That’s such a counter-culture response. Instead of feeling ashamed of weakness, Paul says this is something to boast about SO THAT Christ might be glorified. That sure changes my perspective on things! My physical limitations are creating an opportunity for the power of Christ to be more clearly on display…. and that’s always worth it.

Whether you’re in pain right now or able to look back on a season of suffering, I challenge you to find the refining moment(s). Romans 5 reminds us that we can rejoice while suffering because it’s a PRODUCTIVE process, ultimately causing us to lean into an unwavering, soul-quenching hope. I’m giving y’all 3 of my favorite verses on suffering below. Spend time with the Lord through prayer, worship, & reading His Word. Then spend some time answering these 3 questions::

What was the Lord teaching you?

Where was His kindness on display?

How have you grown because of that suffering?

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Isaiah 48:9-11 “For my name's sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”