Hope that is Bigger than Suffering

80th birthdayMy father-in-law jokingly said, “If I’d known I would live this long I would have taken better care of myself.”

With aging comes its effects. Response time slows. Minor lapses in short term memory. Our bodies just don’t do what our minds want them to do.

But it’s a shock when you haven’t hit your 50’s and you notice these changes. I woke up one morning to discover that I could not lift my leg high enough to put on my socks.

I’m too young for this! There must be something wrong.

After many doctors’ visits’, I found out I was right. I was diagnosed with a form of inflammatory arthritis. The rheumatologist’s findings show Lupus.

Here I was just south of 50 and not able to keep up with everyday tasks. Exhaustion took its toll. I was in ministry with several projects going on at the same time.

I didn’t have time to be exhausted, but living with a chronic illness forced me to slow down. I have learned to allow my body time to rest and recover. Some days are better than others, though most days I run out of steam in the early afternoon.

Are you suffering physically and feeling hopeless?

Maybe the doctors have told you that you are not going to be able to do the things you used to do. Perhaps you are in pain and hurting. The burden is heavy, and the time drags by.

Scripture shows us a way of dealing with suffering that produces in us a renewed sense of hope. It offers us a different perspective on suffering.

From an eternal standpoint, our suffering is light and momentary and is working for us an eternal weight of glory (2Cor. 4:17). From God’s perspective, life this side of heaven is like a mist that appears for a short time and vanishes away (James 4:14,).

His word gives me hope because I am assured my affliction won’t last forever. There is an end to suffering. God may choose to heal me tomorrow, then, it’s over. Or, I may live many years with the affliction until I leave this world, then it’s over. Either way, it’s over. I trust him.

Recently I was hosting a ladies Bible study and feeling exhausted. I found It impossible  to clean and to set up for the study like I usually do. I had to take shortcuts and leave some things undone. When the women arrived I marveled at how little they noticed the shortcuts I took. Frankly, I felt relieved and free from the stress to impress.

Now when I am facing difficult days of pain and exhaustion I ask God to give me strength to accomplish the necessary, and wisdom to leave the unnecessary for another day. Some days it’s all unnecessary. When I rest I make it a point to rejuvenate my soul in his presence. Prayer and meditation on him and his word gives me courage to face the pain one day at a time.

You can begin to experience a hope that is bigger than your suffering.

Ask God to give you a new, eternal perspective.

Commune with Him in prayer and read His word.

As you seek His assurance, meditate on the following passages:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles [afflictions] are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes NOT on what is seen, BUT on what is unseen [eternal perspective]. For what is seen is temporary [our troubles], but what is unseen is eternal [our glory].” (2Cor. 4:16-18, NIV).

 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Rm. 12:12, NIV)

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