It may seem strange for me to declare such a counterintuitive statement: the secret to inner joy is embracing suffering. But I believe it’s true. I would even say that without a theology and practice of suffering, your life will be incomplete.
I believe that embracing suffering when it invades our life, and it does for us all, is one of the secrets to a happy, joyful, and fulfilling life.
The way to greatness in the Kingdom of God, the way to a meaningful life, the way to accomplishing anything, is learning one of the hardest lessons of life: the character of embracing suffering.
Cultures look at Suffering Differently
In the West we avoid it. In the East they embrace it. In the West where success and achievement are most venerated, especially in America where the freedom to pursue happiness is enshrined in our founding documents, we tend to see suffering as an unwelcome intrusion.
In the West, any kind of suffering whether it be physical, spiritual, or emotional often becomes an excuse to self-medicate away the pain. Whether it be through a prescription from your doctor or the overmedication of alcohol, drugs, or sex, we work hard to avoid all suffering.
But in the East, where I have spent ten years of my adult life, mainly in Japan, suffering is acknowledged for the important part it plays in our lives. In the Bushido Code, the moral code of the Samurai, suffering was seen as indispensable to becoming a warrior. It was embraced as a valuable part of character development. Self-sacrifice and self-control gained through suffering were a key part of attaining wisdom.
In Sparta, Greece, the Spartan warriors are still considered the greatest fighters of all time. For the Spartan boy, the training began at an early age. The Agoge, the term used for the training of young Spartan boys, aimed to instill the virtues of strength, endurance, and solidarity.
The Apostle Paul’s Challenge
The philosopher Nietzsche once said, “what does not kill us, makes us stronger.” Paul might have agreed when he wrote to the Romans, a soldierly people: “we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (5:2-3). You will never become the whole person God has intended you to become without learning to embrace suffering.
The Loss of a Child
Arguably one of the deepest forms of suffering is the loss of a child. Nearly five years after his 3-year-old son River died in a drowning accident, country music star Granger Smith is confident of one thing: suffering has a way of drawing people closer to God.[1]
“For reasons that we don’t fully know, God’s plan will always involve suffering in this present world; pain and suffering draw us nearer to God, and God uses that for many purposes,” the 44-year-old “Backroad Song” singer told The Christian Post.[2]
“As a father, I wouldn’t want my children to grow up in a perfect utopia. I want to introduce suffering that I know they can handle so that it produces in them a greater good. Suffering has a way of doing that in all things. It’s not just people; this is how metals are refined, with heat and pressure.”[3]
Helen Keller, who in her lifetime knew much suffering, as well as joy, noted that “character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”[4]
Why Suffering?
Much more can be said about the value of suffering (next blog), but let me give you three reasons for embracing suffering. An easy way to remember might be, COW.
C – The Character of Christ is etched into our souls through the pain of suffering.
O – Becoming an Overcomer only happens through the suffering of facing obstacles and choosing to not quit.
W – The Wisdom of God is only gained through the suffering of our own failures.
Let me challenge you to not dismiss your suffering. God can use it mightily in your life. Embrace it.
Pastor Steve
[1] Granger Smith reveals what he’s learned about theology of suffering 5 years after son’s death, April 7, 2024, Christian Post, https://www.christianpost.com/news/granger-smith-on-what-hes-learned-about-god-after-sons-death.html?clickType=link-most-popular
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Quotes by Helen Keller, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/818488-although-the-world-is-full-of-suffering-it-is-full
