The Gift of Suffering

I limped into Panera Bread with my mind reeling from a whirl of thoughts over my recent job loss. How could they have done this to me when they had always told me how important I was to the very essence of what was getting done? It didn't make any sense to me. I had started out on the basis of relationship and now I was being treated like any hired hand. Did they think so little of my friendship that they could dismiss me so easily?? But...I digress...

Now I needed to pick up what pieces remain of my sense of value and move forward.

As I walked through the doors of Panera's, I scanned for an empty table with a plug for my laptop. My eyes drifted over to a familiar face. I approached with a slight touch to his shoulder. Startled, he popped his head up and greeted me. A long time friend of my parents, Ken was busy getting ready for a presentation to a group in a couple of hours.

We soon found ourselves in a deeper conversation than anticipated. There must have been something of my struggle written on my face. "Not everyone is willing to embrace their struggles or suffering", he said. His wife was a cancer survivor, so he was not unfamiliar with those unanswered questions of "why" and "why me".

Most people when you talk to them of suffering try to change the subject or come up with a reason as to why you are in such a situation...as if it's your fault. But suffering happens. It's not an accident. It's a divine intervention of one sort or another. Not because God is mean, but because He is in the process of performing something precious in and through our lives. "God entrusted us with that experience at that point in time...", Ken commented. That word "entrusted" caught my attention.

Yes...God had entrusted these recent events to me. He is counting on me to trust that He is going to do something far greater than I could imagine. I may not see it now. I may not see it ever. But high in the heavenly courts above there is a scale of trust to which I can add my little portion to say that "God is good" and "God is faithful". I will add my testimony that will last throughout eternity. It doesn't matter if anyone sees my confession now because it will be forever posted in that eternal Hall of Faith.

It's as if God is saying..."Go ahead...make my day...show them again how faithful I am to those I love!! Give me another chance to prove my faithful mercies to you and to them.". I have been thrown into an arena of impossibility where God demonstrates His great love and provision.

I wish I knew the outcome. I wish I could say that I would get a better job or an easier road. Reality is that the road doesn't really get easier. In fact, it may get harder. Yet, I have seen God provide in ways that I could never have figured out on my own. His peace comes in waves that defy the fear, pain, and suffering that life brings.

Embrace the gift of suffering. Sounds a bit dark and depressing. Embrace it with Jesus and suffering turns to a place of peace and rest...a true gift indeed.