Understanding Suffering

When it comes to biblical teachings, one topic that I have just not been able to fully grasp has been that of our suffering, or suffering for Christ, our need to suffer, and so on, and how Paul was able to accept it and find the joy. And of course Christ himself taught of the suffering to come for believers. It has been a hard pill to understand and swallow, until now.

Realization sitting in the un-air conditioned car in the summer heat:

If the situation I am in is God’s will for my life, than my suffering in the situation is for Him. With that understanding, it gives the suffering value, purpose, reason and continued commitment not only to be able to endure, but willing to endure, and to endure joyfully. This realization was life-changing, mind-altering. Suddenly so much that has seemed so pointless now makes understandable sense.        

Before the big realization yesterday, I had made a prayer saying that I understand that if and when God is ready to grant me full healing, it will be done. I believe this prayer lead to the deep understanding reveled to me with regard to our own suffering.

Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more . . .

In my most recent studies last evening, I followed up to my realization and focused on the verses with regard to suffering and of course it comes in many ways for many reasons. In addition to my own realization above, a translation that really helped in further understanding of our need to suffer, was from The Message, 1 Peter 4:1-2, “Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.” This also makes perfect sense as my life has been about me and what I want and there was/is a need for me to break that habit of thought in order to fully follow God’s will for my life. I believe our suffering also helps to prove our commitment.

Prayer helps . . .

Prayer helps us to discover the deeper understanding of this type of thing if we ask or acknowledge in the right manner. If you are suffering and have asked to be removed from the situation or circumstance and have not, then perhaps it is God’s will so seek to understand the lesson within which will then not only give you the strength and the tools to endure but to do so willingly and joyfully knowing that as said in Romans 8:18,

“ . . . that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” or in more contemporary terms, to the joy that is coming.

About Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam

Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam has been writing spiritually for thirty years. With undergraduate studies in English and women's studies, she devoted over a decade of research and writing to women’s studies and spirituality. Author of What If We Are the Angels she is now teaching and sharing A Woman's Path to Wholeness Through Biblical Teachings.

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