“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12

Suffering

I’ve spent some time reflecting again on some of the things I’ve been learning about suffering—there is so much! I could write pages and pages about it. I’ve shared many of the things I’ve learned in these updates, but it was good for me to think about them again.

  • Suffering can last a long time. I am confident that our prayers are answered, but not always as quickly as we’d like—and often not in the way that we would like or expect.  In fact, our expectations about how our prayers “should” be answered are often a big part of how we’ll be able to walk through the suffering. Sometimes our pain comes not only from the physical suffering, but also from the disappointment of our false expectations.
  • Times of suffering are the best times to learn about God’s goodness, faithfulness, and grace. There is a level of fellowship and intimacy that we can walk in with the Lord in suffering that I don’t think can come in any other way. I don’t even know how to give words to it. I just know that there is a depth that I’ve experienced in my relationship with the Lord that I’ve not had before. Probably because I’ve needed Him so very much more during this time!
  • It’s during times of suffering that our character is shaped and formed in deeper and greater ways. It’s a time when we can experience a new level of spiritual maturity if we don’t shy back from the lessons He has for us. I heard one person say that it’s an opportunity to become a “person of greatness” as we walk hand in the hand with the Lord through suffering.
  • During this prolonged season of suffering I have also learned a simple but profound truth: God is there and His Word is completely true, even if I don’t feel it. I’ve experienced a new level of walking by truth and not by sight. I may not always see or feel the truth of His Word, of His promises—but that doesn’t change the fact that they ARE true! I can’t only live by what I see and feel.

A friend reminded me recently of how precious pearls are formed. They are formed inside the oyster shell by “adversity”—irritants in the shell. A beautiful saltwater pearl can take 5 to 20 years to form.  The longer it is shaped and formed by the irritant, the larger and more beautiful it will become.

The pearl is the only gemstone created “inside” a living creature.  As we face adversity in life, we have to stay tucked in close to the living Lord in order to be formed in His image. We can’t become who He wants us to be if we’re distant from Him.

During times of suffering, God is using the “irritant,” the adversity, to shape and form us into something beautiful and precious! He is wanting to mold us into His beautiful “pearl of great price.”

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness morning, noon, and night. Thank You for bringing pearls from irritants—andhelp us submit to Your hand on us. Amen.