How to Find Peace and Hope While Suffering
This past Easter, the worship team sang a song that was new to me. One phrase in particular stood out, “all praise to the son of suffering.” God grabbed my heart with the words and whispered me He knew what it felt to suffer.
I felt comfort from the Holy Spirit and jotted the phrase down in my journal. Later in the week, I revisited the phrase and pondered why I felt so strongly about those particular words. Afterall, I have hard days, but I wouldn’t necessarily say I suffer. Holy Spirit pointed out to me I had a skewed view of suffering.
Are We Supposed to Suffer?
I always perceived if I am a good Christian, I will suffer. Paul talks about sharing in Christ’s suffering in Philippians three. In Romans eight, he discusses suffering as if it’s a given; “…the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed…” (CSB) Paul states in his second letter to Timothy that all who want to live a godly life will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12)
A Skewed View of Suffering
Perhaps we will suffer. However, we may not understand the concept of suffering correctly. I tend to view suffering as first of all doing without. One may live in a shack that looks condemned, eat only broth and cucumbers, or struggle to maintain consistent employment.
Second, I think of suffering as being totally ostracized, living entirely alone, never being liked. In my mind’s eye, I see suffering as living without family and/or friends. In addition, I imagine others always talking about you behind your back, continually criticizing, and condemning.
Lastly, I think of suffering in light of physical pain. I view illnesses that leave someone in constant pain as suffering, whether it is a disease like cancer or an autoimmune disease. I also perceive people who have a handicap as suffering, probably because I struggle to imagine how I would manage constant limitation.
Denying One’s Suffering
Obviously, I have an extreme view of suffering. So, when I encounter days that are difficult, I discount the idea that I am suffering. I admit, I tend to mask my suffering because I think what genuine reason do I have to complain? In addition, I don’t want to mislead people and give the impression my life is too hard because I know I am very blessed. However, this leads me to struggle and/or suffer in silence.
However, we all struggle, we all suffer, and that is truth. Each one of us deals with hard issues because we don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a world filled with sin.
Christ Came Because of Our Suffering
As I processed through my view of suffering, my tendency to mask pain, and the fact that we live in a fallen world, I saw so clearly why Jesus came. The Apostle Peter says it this way, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18, NTL, emphasis mine)
Dual Citizenship
If we choose to accept Jesus as Lord, we gain dual citizenship. We live in this world where there is suffering. AND we live in God’s Kingdom where He provides peace, joy, and freedom, even amid suffering.
Think of it this way, Jesus is the Son of Suffering. AND He didn’t originally create a world where we suffer. I can then conclude two things. One, He knows what suffering feels like. And two, He knows how to enable and empower us to live abundantly in spite of suffering. What does that look like?
Kingdom Benefit: Peace and Healing
Isaiah 53:5 tells us Jesus’ suffering brought us peace and healing. We are no longer separated from a relationship with God. We are no longer trapped in bondage because of sin. Jesus makes us holy and righteous, so we can approach the Sovereign King with confidence every day, at any time of the day.
Kingdom Benefit: Transformation and Strength
In 1 Peter 5, we learn God will “perfect [us] and give [us] firmness, strength and a sure foundation” after we have suffered for a little while (verse 10, GNT). God sees what we endure and does not let it go to waste. We can rest assured He is continually working to transform us and give us the life He created us to live. We must trust the work of our Savior, even if we suffer.
Kingdom Benefit: God’s Love
Paul declares in Romans 8, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written ‘Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (verses 35-39, CSB)
Even when we go through difficulties, hardships, suffering, God is with us. We know He is with us because we cannot be separated from His love. Since God continually loves us, He therefore stands with us, listens to us, provides what we need, fights for us, cheers us on, and offers His presence as our refuge and safety. Especially when we suffer.
Kingdom Benefit: Community
In Galatians 6:4-5, Paul tells us we are each responsible for our own actions or behavior. How we deal with temptation, hardships, and suffering matters. However, Paul tells us two verses earlier that we are to help each other, because this is how we show the love of Christ in us. Therefore, we have the comfort of community. Not only is God with us when we struggle or suffer, but others in God’s Kingdom stand with us and fight with us as well.
The Kingdom is a Treasure
Jesus tells a parable about a man who finds a treasure in a field. The man sold everything he had and bought the field so that he could gain the treasure. We must be like the man desiring the treasure; we must desire a relationship with God regardless of what it may cost us in terms of this earthly life or how much we may suffer here.
Each of us must recognize God never promises a cushy life. Instead, He promises us an abundant life; a life filled with His presence, glory, power, peace, joy, and love. Yes, we may suffer, but the degree to which we suffer is a matter of perspective. In this world we will have trouble (John 16:33), but we belong to God’s Kingdom. As Kingdom people, we are just passing through.
Kingdom Living and Suffering
We may live in a house some consider less than. We may not own what others own. Our grocery budget might be tight ~even non-existent~ and our meals simple. It’s possible others will not choose to hang out with us or include us in their activities. Some may even ridicule us or spread lies about us. We may deal with physical issues or limitations. Some of us will live lives that can only be described as hard.
Still, while we do all the tasks of life from grocery shopping to mowing the lawn, from working all day to helping our children with their homework, we are Kingdom people. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom, and members of His Royal family. Christ is our peace and our healing. The Father gives us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us. He pours out His love on us and delights in us. We enjoy community with other citizens of the Kingdom. We have found the treasure greater than all this world offers.
All praise to the Son of Suffering. He is our Lord and Savior. We must focus on His Kingdom and His presence. Hallelujah!
Girl with Heart Photo by Christian Agbede on Unsplash
