Suffering is Grace
You may be wondering why I would write another blog post about suffering. Or why I seem to be equating suffering and grace. But these are both themes in my life that I’ve tried wrestling through, and today, I think I’ve had a big aha moment.
Suffering is God’s grace to us. Hear me out. We may not see suffering as grace, but it really is. Grace doesn’t just come to us in moments of relief, or freedom from hardship, but is actually present with us even in our darkest moments. As a Christian, I believe that suffering in this life is inevitable. We will all suffer much. But just because we suffer does not mean that there isn’t a good God behind it all. In fact, there is a God and He is good and He reigns grace even in our darkest moments.
And so, I see suffering as grace because in suffering, we are pruned. Our genuine selves are exposed, and we have to deal with what comes out of us, good and bad. We are tested, and challenged, and it’s only when put through the fire that we can come out the other side a more sanctified human, a more gracious and compassionate human, a human that is servant-hearted. Suffering brings sanctification, brings growth, brings maturity, brings perseverance and loads of other good things into our lives, and thus, it is grace. I also see suffering as the means through which God can make us more like Christ. If a big part of the Christian journey is to become more like Jesus, then suffering is a great way to move towards that end.
And why would we want to become more like Jesus? The answer to that may seem elusive, but I’m not quite so sure. Becoming more like Jesus means becoming more gracious, more compassionate, more clear and direct, more forthcoming, honest, and kind. Becoming more like Jesus means telling people what they need to hear, not necessarily what they want to hear, and always choosing to love, even when it seems impossible. Christ calls us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, and he also calls us to suffer for his name’s sake.
If ever I’m learning anything these days – especially as I reflect on seasons’ past that have brought suffering in varying degrees – it’s that God uses suffering to make us more like Jesus. And that is a gracious, gracious thing for Him to allow.
I used to think that a good God couldn’t exist if He allowed all the suffering that exists in this world to persist. I used to consider myself an atheist because I couldn’t fathom a good God allowing suffering in the world. But I’m actually finding now that somehow, suffering is His grace to us, because it tells us that we are desperately in need of a Savior to make everything right again. It reminds us that not all is as it should be. And not only so, but that this world is not ultimately our home. Suffering communicates to us an eternal message: that though the way here is dark and grim, one day soon, redemption will be ushered in. Every form of evil and suffering will cease to exist and all will be made new. Somehow suffering will end and true restoration will begin.
In the mean time, we suffer. Which also means, we grow, and we change for the better. And ultimately, we can see everything – even suffering – through the lens of grace. If this life is pure gift, and we are deserving of none of its pleasures and goodness, then it’s safe to say that the miracle that is life is just that: a miracle. And even when the rain pours, even when the floods start rising, even when the storm comes, we are washed by the water. What threatens to destroy us, what threatens to take our songs away, is exactly what God uses to strengthen us, to keep us singing his praises. There is joy in suffering, because suffering is grace. Pure, unhindered, exquisite grace.
