The Glory of Suffering

1/31/2024

Written by: April Mills

Historically, I have never been a “It’s not fair” person. When life’s challenges come and rear their ugly heads, my reaction typically doesn’t include a sense of injustice or an outcry of “This isn’t fair!”.

Growing up in a dysfunctional house taught me from an early age that pain and suffering happens. As I grew into adulthood, and in faith, I understood even more clearly that this world we inhabit is a broken place, and we are not promised a life without pain and suffering. Adversity will surely come knocking at the door at one time or another.

In times I felt wronged, I trusted the Lord to make it right. I trusted Him to make the ends meet, to connect the dots, and help me problem solve any situation. I trusted Him to be with me in every area of my life and go before me. This foundation has provided peace beyond understanding in many difficult situations.

To my recollection, I cannot recall a time I proclaimed “it’s not fair” during a particular trial, or even in my prayer time. After all, who am I to tell the Great I Am that something isn’t fair? How could I even store that phrase in my mind along with the image of Christ on the Cross?

Two weeks ago, I was having a particularly rough day. I had an ongoing situation, and it was bringing me a great deal of stress. I sat in my office trying to pray, but no words seemed adequate to express what was in my heart. Words of frustration, anger, and fear all felt very empty and did little to convey the depth of my thoughts and emotions.

I know the Lord can see every crevice and hidden corner of my heart, and that He is all knowing. He knows it before I speak it. However, I knew to gain some measure of peace within my heart and spirit, I had to turn it over to Him. Healing comes when we lift up our suffering and brokenness as a sacred offering to the Lord.

I eventually gave into my frustration. I slapped my hands down on my desk and loudly declared, “It isn’t fair. It just isn’t fair.” As soon as those words left my lips, this thought rang clearly and loudly in my spirit: God is glorified in our suffering.

And just like that, I felt my focus shift to a higher purpose and a fresh clarity.

I remembered how long ago I submitted my life to the Lord to be used for His purpose and His glory-whatever that may look like. With a renewed resolve and a sense of hope, I began to pray over the situation that was causing so much angst. I submitted it to Him, and prayed His glory would shine through the circumstance, and His name would be magnified. I prayed those involved would witness the work of His hand, and thank the Father in Heaven.

And as always, He was faithful. I wish I could share details with you, but just know God was in the midst of this situation. He is always in midst of our suffering. We do not go alone, we do not suffer alone, and we do not battle alone.

Friend, we will have suffering in this world. We know that, right? And truthfully, so many situations and the things we go through do feel unfair. Bad things happen to good people. The challenge in these seasons is having a kingdom mindset. If we don’t, we will certainly get swept away by our emotions, thoughts and pain of this world. The Word of God and the Will of God are our buoys on a raging sea. We must cling to them. We need to adjust our vision to see our lives through the will of the Father, and seek His glory in all things. This will take a seasoning of our spirits, a dedication to His word and being in communion with Him. It will require an acceptance of what isn’t fair, and an expectation and belief that He is with us always, even in the most difficult of times. Suffering produces hope and that hope will lead you to peace and joy.

Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.