“We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance, which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness. And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love.”
Romans 5:3-5 (The Voice)
It sounds almost poetic doesn’t it?
To celebrate in seasons of suffering.
But how do we actually achieve this, authentically?
Am I alone, or do you perhaps wrestle with these words? Make no mistake, I do want to develop endurance and character. I just do not want it to be shaped by seasons of suffering. I would much rather prefer it being carved out by seasons of spiritual discipline or silence or solitude or may I be so bold to ask in seasons of song!
Nothing in our human nature feels like celebrating seasons of suffering. Nothing! In fact we will do almost anything to avoid pain and discomfort and being depleted, won’t we?
I recently had to undergo a medical procedure which resulted in unexpected and painfully debilitating post procedure complications.
Initially I was optimistic. I was in pain, a lot of pain, but I felt my endurance and resilience will see me through. Until it didn’t. Because the complications became even more complex and the symptoms even more severe and excruciating. Suffering in itself is awful, but when it lingers and when it doesn’t seem to have an expiry date our faith can become wafer thin. Nothing like constant pain to pilfer your persistence and perseverance. It hammers all positivity and self-reliance into a small pellet of dust.
My prayers went from pleading for no complications. To healing. Not just any healing but swift healing. Then to petitioning for a miracle. A suddenly. A breathtaking breakthrough. But none of these prayers were answered in the way I desired.
Here is the dilemma.
Suffering is a part of the process God uses to shape us.
There is a holy mystery in joining with Christ in the fellowship of His sufferings that ushers us into a deeper understanding, a deeper love, a deeper joy and as incongruous as it may sound, a deeper gratitude.
My prayers were answered by small triumph’s by the doctor and the medication. Faithful friends offering their hands in friendship and their knees in prayer. Persistently. Patiently. Profoundly.
I had to accept the waves of pain and suffering and yield my anger. Anger at the situation. Anger at God not fixing it in my time frame with my clearly defined preferences. I had to let the suffering shape me, deepen me and birth an immutable trust in God’s goodness despite my circumstances.
This is not the kind of lesson I want to learn on the field trip. I want to just memorise it from the textbook in the safe surroundings and comfort of the classroom of life. But that is not what Paul teaches us in Romans.
Somehow suffering is the catalyst that is needed to bring that refinement even rigorous endurance that we need to have the kind of fortitude and perseverance that can overcome adversity. It fosters hope, not in our own strength of ability but in God. It invites us to be intentional to search and seek God’s goodness even in the gritty, grimy, gut-wrenching places of unbearable challenges and circumstances. Adversity knits us to Him.