Maturing through Suffering

I recently ran across the following quote: “Maturity requires suffering. Some of [the suffering] may be petty, some of it may be serious, and some of it may be so psychologically scarring that you’ll be getting over it for a long time.” Suffering comes in a variety of forms and can ebb and flow through various seasons. But one thing is for sure: it is often the catalyst for spiritual maturing. Here are two reminders about suffering.

First, suffering is intended to shape us more and more into the image of Christ. In Romans 5, Paul reminds us that “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” While we may not be thankful for the external source of our suffering, we can rejoice that the Lord uses suffering to deepen our trust in him. It is in the face of suffering that we learn whether or not our faith has the eyes to see that the Lord is bigger and stronger than any suffering we may encounter.

Second, we should remember that there are many suffering people around us. And we need to respond to them in care and kindness. In Romans 12, Paul reminds us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” What is often most helpful to those who are suffering is simply coming alongside them to encourage and empathize. What is NOT helpful is ignoring or avoiding the person’s suffering, or simply offering empty spiritualizing platitudes like those offered by the “friends” of Job.

If you are walking through suffering right now, remember Paul’s opening words in 2 Corinthians 1, where he reminds us that God “comfort us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Ben