Understanding suffering

Suffering is often a very touchy subject to approach, but it’s necessary. Let’s talk about it. 

We are all familiar with the suffering for Jesus leading up to it on the cross. As Christians, we are all called to follow in His footsteps and bear our own crosses. In fact, if there’s anything that Jesus promises, it’s that we will encounter suffering in our life: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, “ Matthew 16:24. 

But, as humans, we don’t like to suffer. It makes us uncomfortable. We like being comfortable. 

We have to think eternally. Jesus lived uncomfortably and is now King of the Universe. We must not be attached and have roots in this world, lest we forget that life on earth is fleeting. 

In my sophomore year I encountered some of the greatest suffering I have ever experienced. It was the most painful year I’ve ever lived. The relationship I had with my suffering was difficult. I was angry, I was confused, and I felt like God was not listening to me. But no matter how much I hated it, I had to learn to live with it. It was not something I could take away myself. So I learned the patience of suffering, and how to suffer. I now see suffering far differently, and I would not be able to if I had not been through that year. 

1.God does not hate you. 

We think about suffering, we have to think about it in the perspective of God. Remember, His goal, and what should be our goal is to be with Him in Heaven. How we feel on earth matters far less to Him and should matter less to us, since this world will eventually fall away, while Heaven will not. He wants you to have things that last, and the fruits you gain with suffering will last for eternity. And when you are in Heaven, you will realize how small and insignificant your suffering and feelings on earth were. 

We achieve Heaven if we are not sanctified. And suffering sanctifies. Saint Faustina writes ”suffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul. In suffering, we learn who is our true friend.” — Diary, 342.  In fact, suffering is often a sign of trust in a sense. God is trusting you with a big mission, He picked you for the job, just as Jesus was picked. Jesus, who suffered more than any of us and has the highest position in heaven, as the Father’s right hand. So rejoice in your sufferings, especially if they are great, because that is a foretelling of a higher and closer position to Him in heaven. 

2. Suffering, and everything God uses, has meaning. 

You have heard it said that God uses everything in everyone right? He uses suffering in the same way he would use you or your circumstances. So you need not worry about your suffering, being meaningless or pointless, that you would just be simply in pain for no big reason, because that is not true. Your suffering will help not only yourself but so many others, as well as God’s will and eternal kingdom. You are an essential part in His plan, and He is counting on you. What and honor! 

As humans, we need meaning. We need purpose. That is why we see jobs and families and activities. We need something that defines us and our lives. Suffering, therefore his meaning and purpose. By uniting your own suffering to the suffering on the cross, you are joining in Jesus’s suffering and the fight for salvation of souls.

3. Suffering can be offered up. 

Anything can be a prayer. A song, an activity, an act of labor, a Mass, and yes, suffering. You can offer it for yourself, an intention of worry you have, or for another person or circumstance. That way, your suffering has even further meaning and purpose, and the fruits of your suffering will benefit and assist in that intention.

4. Suffering is love 

I know. This one is hard to swallow. You are likely thinking the same thing I was during that year of my life. “How could God love me when he is putting me through this? Why would a loving God do this?” But I promise, it’s true. 

Love is not a feeling. It is an action, a choice. It is to will the good of the other. There is no true love without sacrifice. We sacrifice for love because the other person is worth it. If we love God, we are to sacrifice for Him. Because He is worth it. In the same way our husband sacrifices for his wife, or a parent sacrifices for his child. And Jesus sacrificed first for us, because we are worth it. “ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends, “ John 15:13. 

Often there were saints who requested more suffering out of the immense love for God, to console Him and help Him save souls, such as Saint Faustina. Even greater example of suffering is Our Lady With her love for God, she continued to suffer obediently, trusting in his eternal plan for her life, and even more so, she suffered out of love for her adopted children, which she was given, while Jesus was on the cross. “ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved, he said to his Mother ”woman, behold your son”, and said to the disciple, “son, behold your mother!” From that hour, the disciple took her into his own home.” (John 19:26-27) Now Mary is queen of heaven, and millions of souls have been saved through her intercession.

Furthermore, St Francis de Sales speaks of suffering as love in his book “Finding God’s Will For You” when he says we must think of the suffering we receive in the context of who gives it. Since it is God, and God’s is love and goodness itself, it can only be good (75-77). 

5. Suffering and Sin

Suffering is also a product of the consequence of our sin. Once Adam and Eve first sinned, we as humans began to experience pain and hardship. We either make up for our sins through suffering either on earth or in purgatory. God gives you this suffering because He wants and calls you to be holy, as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). 

I hope this has helped you. I hope you think of suffering in a new light, and look forward to the multitude of graces you will have in heaven, and see how Godfather loves you so much that he wants nothing but the best for you and your eternal soul. 

Let’s pray. 

Heavenly Father, forgive me for all of the negativity. I have looked at you and suffering with. Help me to further understand what suffering truly is, and to willingly bear it for You and for Your kingdom. Help me to look at all of the meaning and purpose my suffering holds, and to see You, all of my loved ones, and all of the lost souls as worth suffering for. Help me to suffer like Mary did, like all of the saints did. Help me to have an eternal perspective, to live in the world, but being out of it and not grow roots in earth, but in Heaven. In the holy name of Jesus I pray, Amen.