The Power of Suffering (Part 1)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5
In the past 30 days, how many friends have you encountered who are going through a difficult season, or have asked you to pray for them due to unexpected, challenging life events? Suffering, it seems, is a part of life and unavoidable and appears to be increasing in recent days. Whether natural disasters, job losses, effects of inflation or serious illnesses-the topic of suffering is very present in our lives today. All of us have experienced difficult times, where a solution seems impossible, and the perceived outcome is not good enough. Walking alone in the midst of these situations can be isolating and lonely, often leaving us hurting.
This topic of suffering seems to be in front of me frequently. My curiosity has led me to explore and discover there are two very different postures we can take during a time of suffering. The more challenging one– leaning into the suffering, experiencing the emotions, allowing the hurt or disappointment to take up residence in our hearts, then inviting a trusted someone to journey with us–-appears to be the better way! Learning to sit, be still, and seek God above all else may just bring what we need most. This path may actually lead to something beautiful. Strength. Learning. Healing. Transformation.
Honestly, for many of us, understanding suffering (whether physical, emotional, or spiritual) and its purpose can feel overwhelming. It takes intentionality combined with a soft heart to see God at work during seasons of hardship. For most people, it’s easier to recognize His presence and where He was working after we’ve come through a difficult season of hardship. What if, instead of moving through the season hurried and avoiding the lament, we made space to seek God and lean into Him? What if we paused enough to sit with the negative emotions that surface during such times and allow this to teach us? What if we studied the lives of those found within the pages of the Bible, especially Jesus, who suffered beyond our comprehension?
By leaning into the One who sees us, who is near to and understands us, we may gain valuable insight, and even grow in our relationship with God. However, that may require more faith than we feel we possess. Even great things in life require more than we may feel we can give. Ask any athlete, a highly successful person in a specific field, or any parent, and you will find this true.
We can entrust our suffering to Him and rest in His care. We can wholeheartedly rely on God for our strength, wisdom, comfort, and direction. In doing so, we may find blessings we would not have otherwise received.
Leaning into Suffering may look like this:
*We turn to God for wisdom, comfort and strength.
*We ask questions of God.
*We trust God and are ready to learn from Him.
*We tap into resources.
The effects of suffering are harmful when:
-We turn away from God.
-We reject that God can bring good out of chaos.
-We refuse to allow God to change us.
-We allow our hearts to become hardened and bitterness to take root.
“So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are.” Proverbs 4:23 (TPT)
Next week, I'll share resources and some specific ways that have not only helped during my own challenging times but have been a pathway of repair and transformation.
Would you pray this with me?
Dear Lord,
Help us trust you, with all our heart, when we feel there is nowhere to turn, help us turn to you before we lose hope. Thank you for providing us with what is best when times are hard, and suffering is upon us. Thank you for loving us beyond our understanding and providing supernatural peace. In Jesus name Amen.
(Proverbs 3:5, Psalm 143:8, Genesis 22:14, Philippians 4:6-7)
If this devotion has spoken to you, I would love to hear how!