In my pastoral care work, I see many people who are having troubles of all kinds. They may be wrestling with spiritual issues or bearing deep grief. They may have worries about a loved one or fears about physical hardship with a tough diagnosis. They may be struggling with addiction or mental illness in themselves or in someone they love. They may have come to the end of something: a career, a relationship, a living situation that is over. All of these situations bring suffering.
While we all will surely endure hardships in life, for some such a season will come early while we are still young. Others of us may coast pretty well through life until we have some mileage on us.
How do we face suffering when it comes to us? Some find it too much to bear. They try to ignore it or minimize it when speaking to others. They think if they just keep moving, not acknowledging their true trouble, it will go away. They say, “I know I shouldn’t feel this way. . .”
Some seem to enjoy the suffering. My father used to say, “They are enjoying poor health.” The suffering they endure brings added attention and support to them, which is truly a nice thing to receive. They prolong or extend their needs and wants and allow others to come in and do for them long past the time when they could take charge again. They become accustomed to the suffering, moved it in and made it right at home.
But others meet the suffering head on, knowing that suffering comes to us all, that it will come to an end, and that we always have the power to decide how to meet it. Paul recommends that suffering be met with endurance, as though we are going to outlast the suffering (and we will!). If we meet suffering with endurance, then it will produce character, giving us a strong and mature persona that can tackle and subdue it. As we bring endurance and character to bear on our suffering, we will have hope, a hope that will never disappoint us. As God’s beloved children, we will overcome suffering and be in His presence, in this life and in the next. Suffering is not permanent. Hope is!