Overcoming SufferingSample

Suffering Gives Us a Voice

“Let me give you some free, unsolicited advice.”

Ever hear that?

It’s so generous of that person, isn’t it? You don’t have to ask or anything; they’re just handing out their nuggets of wisdom like God’s rain from Heaven.

I almost never have time for that. Especially when I know the person has no clue what I am experiencing.

Maybe you are running your own business and struggling to make it work, and then someone with no idea what it’s like tells you what you should do.

Maybe you have a kid struggling with addiction, and someone whose kid isn’t struggling with addiction gives you some parenting advice in that area.

Maybe you’ve lost someone you love, and someone who knows nothing of that kind of loss instructs you on how you should be feeling.

It’s offensive, really.

It is so different when a brother who has gone through what you are going through comes along.

First of all, that man will usually say a lot less than someone who hasn’t gone through it. But second, you probably find yourself more interested in hearing what that man has to say. I know I do.

This is what suffering does; it gives us a voice into other people’s suffering. They can look you in the eye and see that you know what they are going through. This privilege and honor come at a price. But the price is worth it if God can redeem your suffering by allowing you to speak graciously and honestly into a brother’s life who is suffering.

Allow God to minister to you in your suffering, and then trust that He will use you to encourage a brother in their suffering.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I hate this suffering that I am experiencing. But I am trusting that You aren’t wasting one second of it. I ask that You would accomplish whatever You want to do in me, so that when others go through similar struggles, I can come alongside them with the grace You’ve shown me and be a strength and support to them. Help me to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Help me not to push my opinions on them, but rather to use my experiences to encourage them and build them up. Amen.

Reflection: Are you being as attentive as you can be to Jesus’ work in your life through suffering? Lean into it with your eyes fixed on Christ so He can complete the very good work He wants to do in you.