From Suffering to Hope

I sat high above the city under a waning sun, sipping water—not coffee. Seated on a friend’s condo porch, I enjoyed the view and conversation, and the promise of an overnight visit.

High above the fray, our thoughts went deep. “When I was at a low point,” she shared, “I found solace in the writings of Andrew Murray.”

Unfamiliar with the name, I looked him up. An online article from Christianity Today quoted the man of faith, “May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love, and joy of God’s presence. And not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for him to fill full of his Spirit and his love.”

Even now my soul melts at the thought.

My friend explained, “Murray talked about how a blade of grass receives nourishment from the sun just by being and growing as God causes it to grow.” 

“Funny you should mention that,” I countered. “I’ve had an interesting month.”

From there I explained how over the past several weeks, people from painful parts of my past have shown up, one after another. People I don’t normally see. People I don’t necessarily want to see. And people who kept colliding in my days with little warning or explanation.

As the fourth encounter approached, I prayed in earnest, “What’s up with this, God? What are you trying to say? What do you want from me? To press in and speak peace or to stay safe in boundaries that protect?”

Clarity arrived only after the last encounter, when memories sparked a sadness that hung heavy round my frame.

While the sadness was real, documented, and understandable, after continued prayer, I felt heaven say, “Choose this day whom you will serve: sadness or joy. Sadness is a viable option. But in each case of suffering, I’ve held you and grown you, and lead you to hope. You can link each heart ache together and continue to lug the heavy load. Or you can release the sorrow and embrace the life you have now; a life filled with hope due to the lessons learned through suffering.”

"It's as if I'm closing the chapter on a book," I told my friend, "and starting an entirely new one. And all I feel is stillness. Which is why I like the blade of grass analogy. I'm not sure what's next. So, for now I'll enjoy the warmth of the Son shining down on my frame."

The Apostle Paul wrote, “But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope" (Romans 5: 3 – 4 NIV).

Do you believe it? That suffering can lead to hope?

We live in an age where people long to eclipse personal suffering. We don’t like discomfort. When a situation triggers emotional strife, we often blame the problem without learning from it our walking through it. 

But when we run from that which distresses us, rather than pressing on through the pain, we leave the path that ultimately leads to hope. For, “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope” (Romans 5: 3 – 4 NIV).

Trust me, this makes me uncomfortable. I don't like suffering. But I do like the outcome of lessons I've learned, most of which remind me that all of this is temporary and heaven is real. 



all photos courtesy of pixabay.com