Learning from Sorrow and Suffering!

Last week I mentioned my focus over the next few weeks will center itself in the arena of suffering. 

It wasn't by choice, but rather fell into my lap as the result of the final speaking session on my last retreat.

With that said, I dive into the topic knowing the waters will be quite chilly. 

John Stott once wrote:

"The fact of suffering undoubtedly constitutes the single greatest challenge to the Christian faith, and has been so in every generation."

 

And, from the pen of Corrie ten Boom (Holocaust war survivor):

"If God sent us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes."

Lesson #1 in our Biblical Theology of Suffering:  All Suffering Teaches Us Something!

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One year ago today, my dear friend Michele left earth for heaven. 

I can't let this day pass without remembering the suffering-life she led, especially over the last three years of being on this planet, and all she taught me. 

Little by little, a disease we spoke of by its initials, MSA (Multiple System Atrophy) began to steal Michele's body from her. 

Once diagnosed, we knew she'd been given a death sentence.

Yet, never once did I hear my friend ask the age-old-question, "Why?"

Never once did I hear her complain.

Over and over, we spoke of heaven, and she'd ask me to have Bay come and preach heaven to her just one more time. 

The other recurring theme from her mouth always began like this, "How blessed am I.....?" She'd then go on and recount all the ways she saw God's goodness pass in front of her; and, she prayed...

OH! HOW! SHE! PRAYED!

On this day, one year ago, I began to list all the things that my sister-in-Christ had taught me as she slipped from our presence into HIS!

This is a great way to begin this series on suffering, for these are the things which Sorrow and Suffering want to teach us on the journey Heavenward.

(Yes, I'm repeating parts of last year's blog. That's ok. We need to have these lessons repeated, and all of them seem to come from the book of Philippians, which Paul wrote from his imprisonment in Rome.)

EVERY! SINGLE! THING! we are allowed to suffer is a gift of grace. 

My friend made friends with suffering, and allowed it to strengthen her soul.

EVERY! SINGLE! THING! to which we may feel shackled is an opportunity to advance the gospel. 

Just as Paul was "put" in chains in a Roman prison, Michele was "put" in an uncooperative earthly tent that she might minister to others. It was her greatest desire to keep the main thing the main thing: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS!

Oh, and about "advancing" the gospel and allowing suffering to "progress our faith and joy in Jesus?" We can know it won't be without resistance (from inside and out), instead we can view our "HARD" with eyes-of-eternity: 

In our suffering we can be trail-blazers-of-God's-glory.

If suffering leads me through the valley of the shadow of death, then death is,  for me,  a win-win. 

As long as we live in this body, we have opportunity to fulfill God's purpose for us on this earth...but, dying is gain! Heaven is so worth it - and she wanted everyone to know that!

Joy is never dependent on circumstances. I've never met ANYONE IN MY LIFE MORE JOY-FILLED! In fact:

All of life is simply an adventure in joy.

Suffering can not strip away our ability to worship to the very end. 

We serve a God who is worthy of worship, who walks the painful journey with us, who helps us endure to the end, and who gives us peace that passes all understanding. 

These life lessons on the hard journey, remind me that doing the hard thing is often the most holy thing we can do.