To Rejoice in Suffering

UV 867/10,000 To Rejoice in Suffering “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.” Romans 5 v 3 We gain more from pain than from pleasure for the lessons learnt from pain endure with us. We learn all the deep lessons of life from and in times of suffering. We realize that the pleasure is ephemeral and short-lived but we find answers to questions of our purpose and relevance in this vast universe through suffering. Suffering builds up our inner strength and our spiritual stamina. It prepares us for the next big challenge in life. In this manner, it generates the quality of persistence and perseverance in us. When we suffer for a righteous cause and not because of something unworthy that we did, we can and should rejoice. When we suffer for the sake of Christ we should rejoice that we are sharing or partaking in a small way in His far greater suffering. We may not feel like rejoicing at the time we are going through a phase of suffering but when it is over, we begin to enjoy the fruits of character like the patience and maturity it produces in us like nothing else can. St Paul rejoiced in times of suffering when he felt weak as in these times, he sought and experienced the strength and grace of God. We rejoice in suffering for our suffering is for a little while and is not significant in comparison with the eternal weight of glory that the Lord is going to reward us in eternity. We can rejoice for suffering purifies our faith of the dross or impurities that might have crept in. No plant when it is pruned enjoys it but when the pruning leads to more growth and fruitfulness, it will consider the process useful and necessary. The Buddha taught that suffering can be avoided by eliminating desire. But the Bible teaches that it is not necessary to avoid or eliminate either. Suffering can make us better or bitter. If we submit to God’s plan and will for our lives and believe that nothing happens to us unless the Lord has allowed it, suffering will make us better. Today, as the years increase from the time of my suffering by being injured in the bomb blast at Sriperumbudur, I can rejoice more and more in it and be thankful to the Lord for taking me through the valley of the shadow of death quite early in my life. It has been a defining moment in my life and enabled me to discover my purpose and mission in life. It shaped my character and priorities and built patience, perseverance and endurance into the warp and weft of my personality. Prateep V Philip