Father, help me understand how to think about suffering. I know it is sinful (but often feels more righteous) to fear suffering. It shows that I know my sin and how hurtful suffering can be. Yet I also know I should not be too confident. Yes, you can meet me with great joy, but you don’t always. My overconfidence comes from thinking I will always be joyful in suffering and my fear comes from thinking it will utterly destroy me (as I have sometimes felt like it will). What do I do? How do I think rightly, faithfully, and soberly about suffering? I know it is true, that whether I am dancing in light amidst suffering or crouched low in absolute darkness, you are always with me. You will never leave nor forsake me. You love me with an everlasting love. Maybe my expectation of suffering should not be based on how I will respond, but how you do. Should I be prideful, thinking I will respond well, or despair, thinking I will respond poorly? Neither. Maybe I should be sober-minded and humble, yet confident and at peace because no matter how I respond, you always respond the same. You will uphold and sustain me. You will be merciful. You will give grace. You will be with me.
Leave a Reply