The Purpose of suffering

The Purpose of Suffering

I sighed as I rubbed my achy leg.  It had been two years since the pain started.  Two years of doctors, tests, physical therapy, stretching, and just surviving.  The mystery was solved and now there was hope that all this would end.  

“But will it end?”  I turned to my father in frustration.  My divine Father could do anything.  He could heal it in a moment if he wanted to.  “It’s been two years and now that we have answers, there’s still more pain and more work,” I complained.

The Father just stared back at me and smiled.

Not receiving an answer, I plowed on.  “I don’t have the patience or the endurance anymore to deal with this!”

God patiently smiled and said simply, “I know that. That’s why you’re being put through a process.”

I stuck out my lower lip in a pout.  That wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear.  What I wanted was relief, permanent relief that can only come from healing.  What was he waiting for?  He healed others, why not me?

Seeing my frustration, God continued, “I see the bigger picture, daughter.  Growth comes through adversity.  As you consistently exercise with resistance, your muscles slowly get stronger until you reach a point that you have to put more weight on.”  Cocking his head as if in thought he asked, “Are you enjoying physical therapy?”

I moaned massaging my sore muscles, “No, of course not.  It hurts and it’s very time consuming.”

“Why do you do it then?”

Feeling confused as to why I needed to state the obvious, I looked at him and responded, “Because, if I don’t my leg won’t get stronger.  I’ll always be weak and unable to do things.”

My Father nodded in agreement.  “Building strong muscles is a process, it’s not instantaneous. Exercising is painful and exhausting, but people do it to better their health.  It’s the same with faith.  As you continually live in faith, you have to add more resistance in order to continue growing.  If you don’t, then apathy takes over and you’ll be spiritually weak.  It’s a process, but in the end you’ll be a stronger person for it.”  God paused, giving a moment for this to sink in.  “I could heal you immediately, but then where would you be?  I would be robbing you of growth and of knowing me deeply.”

I silently pondered what my Father had said.  What was the ultimate goal?  I wanted to be more like him, and in order to be like him, I knew I would have to experience suffering like he did.

Coaching Tip:  If you’re going through a long-term period of suffering, ask God to help you see the bigger picture.  Rise above the earthly realm and enter into the spiritual to see what He sees.  You are being molded for a greater purpose, so surrender to the process.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.  James 1:2-4 (NLT)

-Kristen Zuray