Suffering is Not Worthless

 You’ve probably heard the famous line by Benjamin Franklin, “nothing is certain but death and taxes”. He’s not wrong. All of us will eventually die and all of us — if we don’t evade the IRS — will pay taxes.

Death and taxes are certain, but I believe another certainty needs to be added to the list, suffering. Suffering is something we all experience, but few talk about. We talk about politics, memories of deceased loved ones, the weather, etc. but we rarely talk about our internal pains.

I’m not referring to physical aches, but rather emotional weariness. It’s in our emotions that all of us will suffer greatly. This type of suffering can cause disillusionment. It can leave us sad, bitter, and hating life.

If we were to survey people at random, I believe we would find the majority think suffering is meaningless, pointless, and worthless. Suffering is seen as something that “just happens”. We need to accept it and move on with our lives.

The problem is what do you do when you can’t move on?

When suffering is like a wall you can’t jump over. Desperation sets in because we believe suffering will be forever. Suffering is not forever, and it has a purpose.

In the present

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. — Romans 8:18

We find ourselves in the here and now. Each one of us must live from moment to moment. Sometimes, suffering fills those moments. The apostle Paul mentions “sufferings”. Notice the phrase is plural. Each one of us must encounter various sufferings.

What can we do to alleviate the suffering?

From experience, I am not sure we can alleviate the suffering. Suffering hurts and because it hurts, it’s impossible to ignore. You can’t alleviate the suffering by not thinking about it. You can’t alleviate the suffering by doing something. You simply have to endure suffering.

Often when I suffer emotionally, I imagine Jesus. I thank him for his unbearable and torturous suffering. I contemplate and praise God for the little I suffer. I think of the cross.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. — Hebrews 12:2

Not only do I think of Jesus but the millions of others suffering for Jesus’ sake. All over the world people are persecuted, tortured, and murdered because of him. In the light of Jesus and others, I gain a perspective on my suffering. My suffering is little in comparison.

Would you rather

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. — Romans 8:18

The apostle Paul encourages us to compare. Not only can we compare our sufferings to Christ’s and others, but we can also compare them to our future rewards.

Our future reward is glory. It will be a glorified body and world. We are awaiting it to be “revealed”. The apostle Paul is persuading us of its grandeur.

Grand, it will be! All creation awaits with eager expectation. We should be excited about this coming reality. The anticipation should seep right through the pain.

Allowing us to compare the present excitement about the future, to our present pain. I mention this because our hope is a present belief. Even through the pain, we can have joy.

Joy isn’t for the future but now. Joy is coexistent with pain. We can experience joy and pain — simultaneously — while we await our future abode. We can compare our joy to the pain. Allowing, us to remain steadfast through the storm.

“Without dark clouds in our lives, we would never know the joy of sunshine. We can become callous and unteachable if we do not learn from pain.” ~ Billy Graham

The Revelation

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. — Romans 8:18

One day this wicked world is going to get turned upside down. All the bad will be gone. All the shame will vanish. All the pain will be healed.

The revelation will be a healed world. We’re going to have healed bodies. I contrast that to the perception. Normally, when we think of new, we imagine different.

We don’t think restoration, revitalization, or recovery.

I always remember the scene with Thomas and Jesus. The resurrected Jesus — post-resurrection — had nail-pierced hands. I love the response of Thomas, He says, “my lord, my god!” (John 20:28).

Jesus’s ailments were not distorters of his glory, they were highlighters. I believe the beauty of what’s being revealed is that everything will be restored.

Every single one of us won’t get new appearances, new physiques, or measurements, rather we will be just as we’re always meant to be.

That’s ravishing.

Worth the wait

The best story is not a perfect story, but a journey with a happy ending. The Bible claims we will get that ending.

I don’t know about you, but I want that. Every pain I endure will be worth the refinement by fire. No jewel is made without pressure. And rest assured, wherever there is suffering, there is a gem more precious than gold being molded.

We are those gems. Suffering is making us dazzle. It’s what we need to shine in a dark world.

What is more precious than the cross?

Even the most wicked event, in all of human history, makes God’s truth shine bright.

The same is true for us. Jesus died to make us like him. We are found in him. What is more valuable than that?