the sanctity of suffering

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

1 Peter 4:1-2

Suffering is a precious and holy work of God meant to make me more like Jesus. Truthfully, I seldom if ever see it in that light, to my shame. I live in a culture that is uneasy with suffering and seeks to numb all pain. We have numerous appealing temptations to seek to circumvent the noble purposes God may have in suffering. Yet the sufferings of Christ were the best gift to grace our planet. God’s work through the Suffering Servant has saved the world.

Peter calls believers to a proper faith in God that correctly interprets suffering as His means to help us in holiness. He calls us to this attitude in our suffering: a higher view of suffering sees it as a beautiful part of God’s work in us that saves us from missing the sanctity of suffering and calls us into living more like Jesus in the world. It pulls us above the crushing weight of our experience in suffering and saves us from sinking in a sinful response... beyond self, we look to our Saviour Whose suffering saves us and Whom God raised up from the death forever to reign over us! Yet He still is known by His scars. In Christ God loves us. We can endure because Jesus has endured. We will be forever free with Him so that no suffering right now is beyond our ability to trust.

O God,

There is a gracious purpose in all You do in my life. May even my pains fix my thoughts on Your love known in Christ my Redeemer!

Amen