LOVING JESUS | In Suffering
Part III of the eponymous series
I have said these things to you, that in Me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33, ESV
Suffering is a theme that every human has pondered on and experienced to some degree. Many scholars have tried to employ the theme of suffering and presence of evil in various debates and discussions that touch on the existence of the Triune God. Some people have reached an hypothesis about the meaning of life because of intense pressure that has been (or is being) mounted upon them in diverse ways. Others have lost hope and embraced suffering, waiting for the moment where it will exist no more.
Why Does Suffering Even Exist?
God's original creation design was not inclusive of suffering. From Genesis 1 & 2, it is clear that all created beings and things were good, including their atmosphere, environment and ecosystem. Nothing was out of place nor “bad”— all was perfect.
However, the disobedience by Adam and Eve led to the beginning of suffering in the world. Through the curses placed on both persons as consequences of their actions, pain and sorrow have become prevalent elements in humankind. Even though Jesus has paid the price for our punishment and secured in Him an eternity free of suffering and tears, the current earth will not cease to experience pain till the new earth appears.1
Does Jesus Understand My Pain?
Many people think that God can and/or does not relate to the sufferings they bear (borne). It is quite easy to believe this lie which is usually breathed upon one's mind by the devil in times of thick, severe pain and struggles. However, various portions of Scripture debunk this claim and reveal that the Son knows us more than we do ourselves, understands our weaknesses, and has endured all manners of hardship.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53: 3-5, KJV
We can group the “pains” mentioned in the passage above under these headers:
rejection
mental distress2
grief
disgrace
affliction
humiliation
physical injury; stripes and blows
Before the torture that ensued on the way to His crucifixion, Christ had already been denied by Peter and betrayed by Judas.3 When you consider these events closely with other Biblical verses that speak about the temptation, trials and persecution faced by Jesus on earth, it is evident that no form of suffering has been overlooked by the Lord.
Since this is the case, how can we love Him in spite of life’s struggles and woes?
Believe that God is always good: The phrase “God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good” is a common statement that believers often say in their interactions with others. Though frequently uttered from our lips, this declaration must burst from the depth of our hearts. Let each man ask himself – Do I truly believe God is good in the midst of war, famine, lack, deep trembling and even death?
Hebrews 11 enunciates the essence of faith and exemplifies patriarchs who trusted God in their tough seasons, even when things seemed to be falling apart. If loving God involves complete obedience, it implies that our hearts must be fully convicted of His goodness as this will help us to move in the most intense moments of life.
There is purpose in the suffering: It is hard to recognize the “true value” of difficult times that occur as a consequence of following Christ in a fallen world. Although God promises to be with and rescue us from all appearances of evil, there are situations where He permits specific happenings as a medium to prove our faith and teach valuable lessons required in our Christian journey. It is therefore good to take a step back and ask for an open heart; one that sees as Jesus does, and learns His will in every experience that comes our way.
A classic example is Joseph who encountered a series of challenges after being sold into slavery by his family – blackmail, imprisonment, affliction — for thirteen years until his appointment as prime minister of Egypt. During the passage of time, the Lord refined his character and shaped him into His great instrument.4Continue in His Word: A unique attribute that is prominent in good marriages is commitment. Couples who have been together for years can attest to difficulties that arose and threatened their union along the way. However, the resolve to remain and forge ahead amidst such moments is an virtue that should also be portrayed in a genuine relationship with God. We are not promised a smooth sail on earth; yet, Scripture assures us of God’s presence during the fiery storms of life. As Jesus was with the disciples in the tempest, so will He continue to be with His followers on earth. God’s love for His bride is unwavering and we must also love Him in return, holding onto His Word always.
Pursue intimacy with God in tough seasons: Communication is a vital constituent of healthy relationships regardless of its type. The more we spend time with people, the greater a tendency to gravitate towards and develop a deep sense of affection for them. As you go through painful experiences, rest on the King and bare your heart in conversations with He who is your lover and friend.
God desires to share His sufferings with you: In Philippians 3:7-10, Paul states that a total abandonment of one’s ideas, philosophies, mindset, treasures is essential to attain the knowledge (both theory and experiential) of the person of Christ. As a believer obeys and continues to sacrifice themselves unto God, his fellowship with Him becomes more intimate; God begins to lay upon him burdens for souls, His work, and shares His pains as it concerns the salvation of mankind.
Don’t look back: We must be careful not to miss Egypt5 in the thick of hard seasons especially when it is a direct result of our decision to follow Christ. The comfort of the old life can never compare to the eternal glory that awaits those who endure to the end.6 This hope should strengthen our love for the Creator and spur us to choose Him above our struggles daily.
Love is a choice Love is a call Love involves commitment Love is the One who has given me life
Love is in Him The Source of all Truth Love is in Him Who shed His life for me Love is in Him Who lives in me
He has given me the capacity To love Him above all things By His Spirit By His gentle touch Follow I want Follow I will
Learn from the Master
The task Jesus undertook in securing salvation for mankind involved various moments of hardship, opposition and suffering. Despite all He went through, our Lord never shrunk back from His mission. Seeing His example, we are challenged to pour our love on Him in spite of the woes of life. I am fully convinced that this subject of loving Jesus in suffering is more experiential than theoretical — something that typed words nor a singular post can do justice to in its discourse.
It is therefore my prayer that you who reads this be granted a deep revelation of the love Christ calls us to bear for Him as life continues. I pray that you will seek Him and request that His fountain of love be opened in your heart and never run dry, irrespective of sorrows or anguish that come as a cost of being His disciple.
I pray that you will be able to utter and truly mean the words of the Psalmist below:
But You have rejected us and disgraced us, and have not gone out with our armies. You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
You have made us like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations; You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.
You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us; You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face; at the sound of the taunter and reviler, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant.
Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way; yet You have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.
If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
Yet for Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
Psalm 44:9-22, ESV
May your love for the Saviour grow amidst your present suffering. Amen.
*Further Readings: Romans 8:31-39, Philippians 3
The Hebrew word makob translated as “sorrows” in Isaiah 53:4 has multiple meanings, of which one is related to mental pain. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. (n.d). 4341 makob: pain. In Bible Hub.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024, from https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4341.htm
Here, Egypt is used to infer bondage, slavery or past life of sin before obeying God’s call to salvation. It is the domain where a man dwelled in before receiving and completely accepting the Lord through the light of the Gospel.