A few weeks ago, Pastor Danny wrote an amazing series of devotionals about suffering while in the will of God. It helped me to think of how my illness relates to my theology. I reflected on how I should view my illness in light of the Gospel and how I should understand God's will in light of my illness. It got me thinking about some of the ways God would use my illness for His glory.
As Christians, the way we suffer has the opportunity to preach the hope we have in Christ to the people around us. The way we suffer says a lot about what we really believe about Jesus.
Suffering well does not look like pretending that everything is okay or always forcing a fake smile on your face when someone asks you how you are. Suffering well looks like being honest with how you are really doing and still choosing to believe in the truths of God through it all. People who suffer well look for opportunities to make much of Christ amidst their suffering and limitations.
In
Philippians 1, Paul writes, starting in
verse 12,
"I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel."
Pause there. What would you guess he is referring to here? Maybe he is talking about his miraculous conversion! Maybe it is in reference to a great healing or miracle. On the contrary, Paul is referring to the fact that he is in prison! He continues...
"...so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."
(
Philippians 1:12-14)
Wow. Did the ways God was using Paul's imprisonment to spread the Gospel take away all of his suffering? No. But what joy there is to be found and what peace there is to behold when we step back from our suffering to view it in light of eternity. Some people, when they go through suffering or limitations, become bitter or hateful. Some may begin to doubt God or His goodness. But Jesus invites us to remember who God is: sovereign, loving, in control, good and kind, powerful and awesome, eternal. What an amazing testimony it is for someone to see a Christian suffering yet see them praising God and trusting His goodness.
Living with limitations is not easy. There are the physical limitations we face from our ailments, but that is often only half the battle. I often have had to battle the mental limitations of feeling guilty for not being able to do more or thinking that I was being lazy when my body needed to rest. Throughout all of these, however, the desire of my heart is to use all of my limitations to point to the One who is unlimited! Oh, that others would see Jesus! May the world look at our limitations and suffering and say, "How could someone so afflicted be praising God so much?" And may our response be full of the Gospel message.
So I'm honest that my limitations are difficult and I sometimes feel really discouraged, yet I believe that God is good. I don't curse Him for allowing this to happen to me. I thank Him that it won't always be this way, and I take advantage of every opportunity to bring Him glory, not despite my illness, but through it.
Even the times that I fall short of this mindset and give in to despair or fear, the way I repent and turn back to praise God brings Him glory.
"God, would you help us to suffer well in a way that brings you glory on Earth. Help us to use our suffering as an opportunity to testify to the hope we have in you. You are worthy of it Lord. Be glorified in our lives. Amen."
If this is a topic you'd like to explore more, I recommend the book,
Suffering Is Never For Nothing, by Elisabeth Elliot.
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