TERM I LEARNED TODAY: REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING Its the suffering we endure for the sake of others and in turn redeems us. We all face trials. We all hurt. & because of this, many people- both believers & non alike- ask why, if God exists, would he allow us to feel pain & suffering. Personally, I believe we face suffering as a way to be closer to God. To feel him & remind ourselves we are NOT God. You might say thats foolish. What kind of God makes you closer to him through suffering? Thats not what Im saying. But take God out of the equation for awhile. Remember 9/11? Katrina? Or, even closer to home, a death in the family? People become closer during the hardest times. When things are great, we tend to take them for granted. Its like money in the bank...when I got tons, Im spending like no tomorrow. When Im broke, Im counting every dollar. Think of children too who lived in suffering or poverty only to grow up & becomes icons. Our world is full of such people from Manny Pacquiao to Mother Theresa to MLK. Where would we be if not for those that suffered? Suffering isnt from God. Understand that. Rather, he allows us to suffer so we may be stronger. Just as I would never push my own son down when hes trying to walk, at the same time I will also not come rushing to pick him up when he does. If he falls, Ill allow him to pick himself up so he may get stronger. So it is with God. Its that simple. Its Gods love & love, in its purest form, is perfect. Its not meant to hurt or cause pain. Suffering also isnt punishment. Its part of the human condition. & many of our suffering is caused by what we do to one another as human beings! Crimes. Greed. Apathy. But the key is to think of suffering as a blessing...that as much as it hurts, theres a purpose bigger than what we can see. And theres times we will never see it either! Sometimes our suffering is for the benefit of others & we may never know the impact. I wish I never lost my sister or anyone in my life for that matter. But I know their deaths changed lives. I know that the suffering my family felt made us stronger. Do I wish we didnt have to lose my sister to get to that point? Of course! But again, I cant fully see the impact of her death or our suffering to see if it was worth it. I just have to go on faith & persevere. Understand too that God isnt immune to suffering. His own son endured the biggest suffering of all. For us. Suffering is never easy & I know many people thats in the darkness of it right now. But to you I say, have hope. Always. Because you will be redeemed from your suffering. It isnt for nothing. I promise.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 22:06:10 +0000