All of these are causes of a malady that afflicts all of creation, the malady of suffering.
I've begun to read "Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart: How to relate to those who are suffering," by Ken Haugk.
As he lists numerous biblical characters who faced various forms of affliction, trauma, and sorrow, I reflected on how we in 21st century America regard suffering as foreign to our human experience. It is to be avoided however possible.
That's why we numb with alcohol, drugs, food, sex, and whatever else we can grab to mask our pains.
As counter-intuitive as it sounds, we need to embrace suffering as an inevitable reality of life. Rather than numb and avoid, we can choose to endure and even thrive in suffering.
That's the biblical perspective that we hear from the apostle Paul. He writes to the Romans, "We also rejoice in our sufferings, for we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3, 4)
It's not enough for us to say in resignation, "This too shall pass." Because sometimes suffering is chronic, not passing. It's better to say, "Let's look for the good that God will bring through the suffering."
That's the key. Suffering is not just a physical or emotional experience. It is also profoundly spiritual.
My suffering is connected to my faith. It even has the ability to challenge that faith.
But it need not destroy that faith. Although God may seem remote during our times of pain, anguish, or grief, He is not.
God is present to bring good out of ill, and blessing from suffering.
He is present with us in His Son who suffered for us.
That's how we can redeem our suffering, how we can make it a virtue.
Trust that God, who is bigger than your suffering, is up to something good.
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