Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. (ESV)

One of the biggest questions I hear from my non-believing friends, and the hardest to answer, is this: “How could a loving God allow so much suffering?”  

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Honestly, that is a question I often struggle with myself. In my position at ACF Church, I have the opportunity (and may I say, the great privilege) of walking through some really hard stuff with people. Things that just break your heart – the loss of loved ones, hard medical diagnoses, relationship turmoil, and just general trauma.  

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At the top of the list at this moment (which may change by the time you read this), is my friend whose sister is walking through some really tough medical challenges. A tumor in her tibia was bad enough to ultimately break that bone, causing significant physical pain and, I’m willing to bet, some emotional and spiritual pain, as well. And honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg for this beautiful young lady.  

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But what I have witnessed and benefited from is the strength and faith that she and her family are exhibiting in this season. Talk about grace through suffering – this family has been a shining example of these bewildering, opposing thoughts. The world would tell you that suffering just produces…well, suffering. But the upside-down Kingdom of God says something different…

Today’s passage says that “…we rejoice in our sufferings…” -- wait, WHAT?! In the original Greek, this would be more like, “We glory in our tribulations.” It could also say, we exult or boast in our tribulations. And by tribulations, it’s not pointing toward common little nuisances that we all suffer – no, this is TRUE HARDSHIP! You know, like having a tumor in your leg so large that it breaks that leg.  

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And yet, Paul says we “glory” or “rejoice” or “boast” in that. But why? Because “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” This word endurance in Greek is hypomone (pronounced hoop-om-on-ay), and it means not only to endure, but to remain steadfast. It actually implies an active engagement of challenges, staying firm in faith. And what happens as a result of this? We grow – in character and in spirit.  

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If you are in the middle of a hard season, please don’t hear me say that you should just skip your way happily through your struggles because, well, it’s producing character and hope. Not at all. What I am saying is, at the end of this, as you stay connected and focused on Jesus, he has something for you. Not something the world will understand, but something that is far greater!

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We may never understand everything about suffering, our fallen world, or even how God’s heart breaks because of all of it, but maybe we aren’t supposed to. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9).

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If you are going through some tribulations today, instead of asking “why,” which may never be answered on this side of heaven, you try asking “what” or “who” or “how.” God, what are you showing me in this? Who might I be able to help because of this? God, how do you want me to respond in this?

Father, sometimes I just don’t get it. It’s hard to understand, but I know that you are a loving and good, good God. I know that a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day to you. You operate outside of space and time as I understand it, so my lifetime is but a flash for you. My eternity though – well, that’s all in your loving hands.  Thank you, Lord, that even in my worst of times, you are growing me to be more like your perfect Son, Jesus. Thank you for creating me to be so much more than what and who I am at this moment.  In the mighty, powerful, and life-changing name of Jesus I pray ~ AMEN!!