Suffering

Suffering is not a topic that brings warmth and joy to our minds during the holiday season. Yet, it is suffering that allows us to celebrate the coming of the Savior. Let me begin with the truth that there was a day when the world was in darkness. There was no hope, no joy to be had. Then out of the darkness, a light appeared. It appeared in the form of a child. We know this not to be any child, but the Messiah, the Christ—the One who had been promised from long ago to come and save us all.

This Child grew to be a man, but not just a man, He was also God in flesh. He came to redeem us and the only way that was going to happen was by taking our punishment and suffering on our behalf. He did this by being crucified upon a cross. A cross that was meant for you and me, for we are the guilty ones. Although Jesus took all our sins and shame upon Himself that we may be saved from the grave and hell, it does not exclude us from the pain and suffering of life.

In I Peter we read a letter sent to Christian Jews that had been dispersed all over Asia because of persecution. They were being persecuted because they had given their lives to Christ. If you are like me, you may think that this is not fair, nor is it right. You would think that those who belong to Jesus wouldn’t have to suffer this way. We all know that this is far from the truth. Even today many are persecuted just because they have publicly aligned themselves with Jesus.

Now, I’m not talking about dealing with the hardships of life, everyone must do that. No, I’m talking about people losing their jobs, family, and friends, for no other reason than just being a Christian. How are we to deal with that? I Peter 4:19 tells us, “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

As we suffer, we must remember the reason why we suffer. It is because we identify with Jesus, and the call is for us to celebrate suffering on His behalf. We could suffer because of bad choices and sinful lifestyles. We deserve that suffering and there is absolutely nothing to take joy in. But when we get to suffer for Jesus let us remember Who we have entrusted our souls to. Let us remember that Jesus suffered for us. We should celebrate that we are found worthy of suffering in the name of our Lord.

You see Christmas is wonderful because we are reminded that our God came to rescue us, but that rescue came at a very steep price, a price we could not pay. We are reminded that our suffering is not in vain, for our lives and our souls are sealed in the envelope of God’s grace and love, and that my friends is always worth celebrating, even in times of suffering.