We suffer when we have
something we don’t want or when we want something we don’t have.[1]
“If
you don't get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you
don't want, you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you
still suffer because you can't hold on to it forever.” [2]
“Few suffer more than those who refuse to forgive themselves.” [3]
“A
friend who visits you when you are suffering is your best friend.”
When we voluntarily accept what we don’t want
(other than sickness) and desire only God’s Will – then by grace we have turned
suffering into glory.
Pain and suffering is
our inheritance because of Adam’s sin. We live in a fallen world that focuses
on self. Greed, power, lack of love and empathy results in suffering for
those not in the inner circle of power. There is the unhealthy, genetically
manipulated food we eat, the contaminated air we breathe and the polluted media
of information that form our daily bread.
Suffering can be better
understood by making the following distinctions:
Suffering and pain: Pain is physical
or mental suffering of the body. Suffering is the bearing of pain or
distress which could be physical, (body) mentally, emotionally (spirit) and
spiritually (soul).
Suffering of the soul
and suffering of the body: When the soul is united to Jesus[4],
it cannot suffer pain. There is no pain in heaven and God cannot have pain or
suffering. Pain remains outside of the soul – that is, in the human
nature.
Suffering and sickness: God cannot give
sickness – He doesn’t have it to give. It can be
God’s will for you to suffer: circumstances, righteousness for Him, etc. but not sickness.
God’s will for you to suffer: circumstances, righteousness for Him, etc. but not sickness.
Suffering Jesus did for
our sins on the Cross: 1Peter 3:18 Christ suffered for our sins once for
all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to
God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
Suffering we are called
to do for Jesus:
We are called to suffer
for Christ. To suffer in bringing the Good News to the world.
Phil. 1:29 For it has been granted
to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer
for Him.
Suffering from
injustice: Matthew
5:6;10 Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are those who
are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
1 Peter 3:13-15 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to
do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do
not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ
as Lord.
Suffering we bring upon
ourselves: The
Dutch saying: “Evil punishes itself.” If you drink too much alcohol – you will
be sick and have a head ache in the morning. If you break the law, you will
suffer for your actions. 1 Peter 3:17
For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good
than for doing evil. God’s will in this verse does not say that it is
God’s will to give you sickness.
“The devil is not
opposed to good works, He’s opposed to the will of God.” Many Christians run
around doing all sorts of good
works for the church sacrificing family and friends and end up in a burn-out. Whenever
we start using our own strength instead of the grace God gives us to do His
will, we end up violating love. In our need for self recognition, we can put
ourselves in a position of seeking love from people by serving their needs rather than loving them according to God’s
purpose and plan.[5]
Everyone suffers either
physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, partially or all of the above.
The basic human question is:
Why must I suffer?
Is there a purpose for
my suffering?
How should we respond to
suffering?
It is true that we will
not be able to truly resemble Jesus other than by means of sufferings. If
Jesus would ask you: Would like to suffer for Me? What would your response be?
How many of us would be
jumping up and down saying: “Yes, me, I want to suffer for You!”
I can’t remember who it was, but Jesus did ask this question to some Saint and he replied: “Whatever You want to give me, Lord, I will accept.” He gave the decision back to Jesus but many other Saints couldn’t wait to suffer. Why?
I can’t remember who it was, but Jesus did ask this question to some Saint and he replied: “Whatever You want to give me, Lord, I will accept.” He gave the decision back to Jesus but many other Saints couldn’t wait to suffer. Why?
How do you know that you
are in a good state? If you value
suffering, you are in a good state; if you do not value suffering, you
are in a bad state. It is as simple as that. This is because he who values
suffering, values God—and by valuing Him, he can never displease Him.”[6]
Sufferings are like
firewood, and love ignites it, while Jesus gives us the shape He wants, fully
similar to Himself. And as He operates, your life will alternate, now with
suffering, and now with sweet rest, which Jesus Himself will give to you.
For a farmer to be
ensured of a good harvest, he first needs to plow the field before planting the
seeds. This plowing and pruning action is a necessary process for success. So
is it with suffering.
Jesus holds suffering in
His hands; whenever He wants, He makes us feel it, and when He does not want,
He gives the comfort of His Will, and puts it to sleep. Therefore, think about
making yourself a saint. In every pain, give Jesus a kiss, hug Him very
tightly, and force Him to let the Kingdom of the Heaven come upon earth. It is
the circumstances in life, the sufferings united to center of His Will, that
form the raw material so we may receive in us the life of Jesus, Who calls our
littleness to live in Him and to rise in Him.[7]
We know that peace is
the measuring gauge of where we are at on our spiritual journey but to be at
constant peace, in constant union with Jesus, and to give thanks in all
circumstances of life, we first need to understand suffering.
Hardship, abstinence,
misfortune, suffering in the circumstances of life, come to us veiled and do
not let us see the good which they contain; but peace removes the veil and
allows us to recognize the finger of God in our sufferings, the beautiful
conquests we can make, the sanctity we can acquire.
What is the difference
between suffering of the body and suffering of the soul? Does God have pain and
suffering? Here is what Jesus told Luisa Piccarreta who He taught for 40 years,
how to ‘live on earth as it is in Heaven’: “Since Our Divinity is incapable of
suffering, nothing, even the slightest thing, can in the least shade Our
constant and infinite happiness; and as much as people offend Us, the pain, the
offenses, remain outside of Us – never within Us. And if pain could enter into Us, it would
immediately lose the nature of pain and would convert into happiness. In the same way, for one who lives in My Will
pain cannot enter their soul; more so since, in feeling the light, the
strength, the happiness of the nature of my Divine Will within them, they
already feel in possession of Me. How
can they grieve if they already possess Me?
Therefore, pain remains outside of the soul – that is, in the human
nature. And so the soul feels pain
without pain, sorrow without sorrow, because pain and sorrows cannot enter the
sanctuary of my Will – they are forced to remain outside. The soul feels them, sees them, touches them,
but they do not enter into her center.
And if they did, my Will would lose Its happy nature in them, which
cannot be.
Note that Jesus was
talking about His Divinity being incapable of suffering; but He does suffer in
His Humanity. If everyone would give Him the love He deserves, Jesus wouldn’t
have to suffer for loss of love. Love longs for union and when it cannot find
union It suffers.
Suffering from sickness: Many holy saints failed to see the difference
between sickness and suffering. God cannot give sickness. He doesn’t have it to
give.[8] Sickness comes from several things: Just the fact
that everyone has a free will is the beginning of it all. Yes, the greed of
people ; we use our free will to pollute our environment; the air we breathe,
the food we eat; greed of money and power effect us all in many ways. We live
in a world that is focused on self. We can also choose not to be healthy. We
say: “Be satisfied now for we are going to die anyway.”
When we are spiritually
sick because of sin, we give authority to evil to come into our soul, which can
manifest itself as sickness in our body. Resentment towards God and others in
our life is also an open door for evil to come in. Physical sickness can be the
consequence of a bitter spirit or by letting ourselves be dominated by
discouragement.[9]
To some, sickness can be
a way of life. It can even be a way to get attention or sympathy. In the state
of emotional sadness, a very hurt feeling, some will find a familiar friend
from the past with whom to share in a false comfort only to distract the focus
from dealing with the situation and turning to God for help. By focusing on
God, you put Him above the situation resulting in a release of His grace and
peace.
Living in fear and
anxiety can be one of the greatest causes of sickness. It is no wonder that
Jesus has given us His gift of peace and encouragement in the Scriptures:
“Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians
4:6-7 (In everything give thanks not for everything
give thanks)
We were created with a
body, soul and spirit. The spirit being the state of our soul.
We can experience an
unsatisfiable emptiness within or maybe instead of emptiness it can be a feeling of being too full and having
nowhere to put it.
Only God can satisfy
this emptiness and a place to grow. We seek adventure, thrills, excitement and
even self afflicted pain, anything to make us feel ‘alive’ with a purpose in
life or we drug ourselves to not feel anything at all.
We might have lost our
expectations in life. Why can’t I
realize my childhood dreams? Why can’t I be happy? I am a victim of my parents.
I just want to be happy and fulfilled in my life. Here I am, trapped in my circumstances,
a victim from past experiences and my choices in life. Holiness is not formed
by playing, but by working, suffering, loving. However, the first act must be
the wanting to do God’s Will and to live from It... It will give us the
strength, the peace so necessary to do well the office in which God has placed
us.
Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to Me, all
you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you
rest.
Take My yoke upon you
and learn from Me,
for I am meek and humble
of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.
For My yoke is easy, and
My burden light."
“I am your Strength and
Shield. I plan out each day and have it ready for you, long before you arise
from bed. I also provide the strength you need each step of the way. Instead of
assessing your energy level and wondering about what’s on the road ahead,
concentrate on staying in touch with Me. My power flows freely into you through
our open communication. Refuse to waste energy worrying and you will have
strength to spare.
Whenever you start to
feel afraid, remember that I am your Shield.
My Presence watches over you continually, protecting you from both known
and unknown dangers. Entrust yourself to
My watchcare, which is the best security system available. I am with you and
will watch over you wherever you go.” [10]
[1] Can’t remember who said this.
[2] Dan Millman
[3] ― Mike Norton
[4] A continuous state of union with Jesus
/spiritual marriage.
[6] 30 January 1909 - Luisa
Piccarreta
[7] Luisa Piccarreta
[8] Bill Johnson
[9] Self pride - St. Therés
[10] Ps. 28:7; Matt.6:34;Ps.56:3-4; Gen.28:15 –
January 31 “Jesus Calling” Sarah Young