UNPACK This...Finding Purpose in Our SufferingSample

Suffering Makes It Sweet

Freddie Freeman took home MVP honors for the Los Angeles Dodgers during their 2024 World Series title, wrapping up the Fall Classic with a .300 batting average, four homers, and 12 RBIs.

His performance becomes even more impressive when you consider Freeman helped win a championship by playing with a sprained right ankle, broken costal cartilage in his rib, and lingering soreness from a fractured finger.

Freeman commented, "I did everything I could to get onto that field. And that's why this is really, really sweet. I'm proud of the fact that I gave everything I could to this team, and I left it all out there."

For Freeman, the pain he endured made the championship and MVP trophy all the more satisfying.

As followers of Jesus, we know that suffering is a part of our pilgrimage here on earth. But what if we commonly have a wrong perspective regarding the difficult times we encounter?

What if our temporary suffering in the present is the very thing that will make our eternity with Jesus all the sweeter when we see Him face to face?

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

When Freddie Freeman endured his pain to play in the World Series, he didn't know whether his agony would lead to triumph for his team.

How much better is it when we know that any short-term pain we experience will culminate in ultimate victory?

Knowing that our suffering is purposeful and temporary, we can endure trials and hardships joyfully as we wait.

Revelation 21:4 tells us, "And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Today, let's be joyful about the future that awaits us in Christ and glorify Him in our sufferings.

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for being sovereign over my suffering. Please help me keep my eyes fixed on You so that I might bring You glory no matter what I face. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.