Suffering

I have been thinking about being called to be like God and how we should experience things the way He does... gaining a more eternal perspective of temporary problems, loving the unlovable, showing peace amidst turmoil, love in a world of hate,.... In this I was thinking that God has trusted us to be His ambassadors on earth and that in doing so our sufferings are a participation in the divine suffering.

Kind of a strange thing isn't it?  Can an almighty God suffer?  (I believe the answer is "yes" but an interesting article involving Divine Impassibility can detail the history and theology better for you at:  www.theologicalstudies.org.uk/article_god_bauckham.html )

I believe in the same way what we see of God is as but a shadowy reflection, His suffering must be immeasurably more than ours.  The pain of Christ bearing not just the physical cross but the burden of sin, the pain of separation, .... not to mention God letting us destroy not only His creation but marring His image placed in us.... Of course he doesn't experience suffering as a "helpless victim" (but then maybe we ourselves play that role too much in our suffering).

Perhaps we are called to willingly accept suffering and turn it into something that redeems ourselves and others. Could we really consider it "pure joy" to "face trials of many kinds"?  God willingly chose to suffer the destruction of his creation by sin, as well as suffer the cross to redeem it, all for the sake of the ability to offer free choice and a people who would truly love Him. If we are to represent Him, we will be called to experience His heartbreak for a broken world.  We will be asked to "share in the sufferings of Christ."  Of course it only becomes redemptive if we can suffer well - that is if when we are tempted and tried - we rely more on God and what we produce is the fruit of the Spirit that tells others that God is at work.

Discussing this with pastor friends, Rev. Scott Marshall summed it up well:  "That means more suffering is to come and the suffering I've endured to date is part of my sanctification and is to be seen by me as being allowed to share in Jesus redemption. "

Have you ever seen God turn suffering into a way to strengthen or save you or others? Can God trust you with His suffering?

Body

I am going to go ahead and make a literary faux-pas by recommending a book I haven’t read (but plan to read).  I have heard it was good from others and then former PNG missionaries sent me this quote. 

“Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”

       “Well, why don’t you ask Him?”

“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

    -The Hole in Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns, President, World Vision U.S.

It is really profound when you consider the implications.  God has chosen to work through us - His body, the church.  It appears God is not addressing the serious issues of the world only to the degree that we are not fulfilling His call.  God’s heart breaks for the suffering - He wants it to break through ours.  God’s hand’s yearn to reach out and touch, but he does it through ours.  We are His hands and feet.

God is doing something about poverty and injustice - we are what God is doing - changing our harden hearts into His heart of love.  He is teaching us to love a fallen, broken world.  He is teaching us the joy of sacrificing ourselves for others.

God is addressing poverty, suffering, and injustice.... that is if we answer the call to be about our Father’s business.  Every day is a chance to change the world we see in front of us.  You are Christ’s ambassador to the hurting world around you.

“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of His body, the church.” -Colossians 1:24

Lord, I see the cross,
the place of suffering.
Where grace flows red and guilt erased
teaches me to join,
the pain of sacrifice.
My life, my plans, laid down for Yours,
the joy of sacrifice-
till my life spills love like Yours.

Praying for all the Jesus-followers helping in Joplin after the tornado. Thanks for being Christ to the hurting!
In Christ
Scott