“A God Who Suffers”

Suffering is such a great topic; it’s so deep and twisty you can think on it for hours, come to few conclusions, and still feel accomplished that you have tackled a great mystery.

I think suffering is a great catalyst. It can either close us up, folding us in on ourselves, or it can open us up to the world. When we turn inward and focus on ourselves in our suffering, our wounds often begin to fester. Our suffering becomes sour and depression swamps us. Tendrils of bitterness curl around our hearts. I like to talk about sin in my life this way: as a festering sore that, when covered up, goes inward, blackening the skin and oozing a greenish pus. It communicates how unhealthy sin is for us, and how it taints the healthy parts of us too. I think suffering is also like that – disastrous when it turns inward. The good news is, suffering is edifying when it turns us outward to focus on others and on God instead of on ourselves.

But let’s be real: suffering isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s hardly bearable. There are things so unexpected, so unjust, so painful, we don’t know how to move forward. Yet even in our agony, Christ offers us opportunity. When we open ourselves up in our suffering -- as Christ opened himself –instead of making us sick, our suffering begins to heal the sick parts of us. Our vision sharpens, our priorities clarify. Instead of festering, the wounds clear. We begin to learn what suffering has to teach us … what the example of a suffering God has to teach us.

More on this tomorrow.