That Hurts!

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation thas been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25 ESV).

After spending several days with my Florida grandchildren, who are 5 and two (the twins), I have come away with a renewed sense of appreciation of “pain.” There were a few times, especially with the twins, when one would take the other’s toy. The expression of real pain was more than apparent. It always seemed as if the world was coming to an imminent end. And, I am convinced in their mind it was. It didn’t matter if the pain was real or imagined. It certainly appeared real to them as they fell down in agony with genuine tears streaming from their eyes and the wails of suffering being yelled at the top of their lungs. For them it was genuine pain. I have found that to be the case with many people today. We find it difficult to effectively deal with pain, emotional or physical. One way of overcoming suffering comes from fixing our minds firmly on the greatness of the reward that will come to us in the resurrection. The effect of this kind of focus is to make our present pain seem small in comparison to what is coming (v. 18). In making the suffering tolerable, rejoicing over our reward will also make love possible. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great” (Luke 6:35). He goes on later to say, “Be generous with the poor “and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14). Joy in affliction is rooted not only in the hope of resurrection and reward, but also in the way suffering itself works to deepens that hope. For example, Paul says, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-4). In other words, Paul’s joy is not merely rooted in his great reward, but in the effect of suffering which solidifies the hope of that reward. Affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces a sense that our faith is real and genuine, and that strengthens our hope that we will indeed gain Christ. So whether we focus on the riches of the reward or the refining effects of suffering, God’s purpose is that our joy in suffering be sustained.