day 22(week 4, day 1)
Published May 20th, 2008 in reflectCan you value pain, suffering, violence, illness? Does Jesus value them? Explain.
Lord, this is a difficult topic for me to answer and consider as I have been asked this very thing dozens of times by followers of You and those who find it hard to believe. Can I put a value on pain, suffering, violence, illness? Yes. Do I want to? No. I don’t even want to endure it. Why can’t You just come rescue us now? As a parent, I understand why You work in Your own time and why you allow us free will. As much as I want to protect my sons, I would find it lacking in love to lock them away in a padded room to protect them. At the same time, suffering and violence has the potential to cause me to focus on myself and become bitter and unhappy.
You, on the other hand, I believe bring peace and joy to those who are suffering by giving pain, suffering, violence, and illness a redemptive value. You did this in the example of Christ by emptying “self” completely to help others. I see countless examples of people who are selfless and without selfish motives helping others despite their own suffering. There is an immense joy amidst this seeming supernatural behavior - a behavior that can only come about through true compassion. And true compassion is only resulted from a direct understanding and relationship to the effects of pain, suffering, violence, and illness.
God, give me the selflessness to become a more compassionate man. I confess to fear in this area as I have not yet endured true illness and suffering. I beg that my response when the time comes to be the appropriate one of which will give You glory. Forever. Amen.
Kenn, I really enjoyed reading this prayer as well. Going through or enduring a true illness and suffering can be hard to think upon, because no one desires it. I consider a person addicted to drugs or anything they cannot control a true illness and suffering-they have a hard time understanding how to love others or what it means to be selflessness. Most are tormented in spirit. As I wittness this in many everyday, I’m learning the freedom from any type of illness and suffering is to have what you prayed for, being selflessness and seeking compassion. I’m really enjoying your blogs, your heart is amazing.
Christ said ” My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness” Paul wrote “therefore I take pleasure in infirmaties , in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong”
God is trying to make us the best us…so that He can use us. Like gold that goes through the fire to be purified…we pick up our cross and suffer with Christ…so that we can be cleansed and made ready for service. When we are weak then He is able to enter in and be strong in our lives.
Is there value in suffering? Yes..no suffering means no redemption, no power, no victory.