I have met people who know about the world of suffering in ways I hope I never have to. Suffering goes by many names. Sometimes it is something we cannot hide and sometimes it is something no one can see. But in this life, everyone has known suffering, and the world is full of it. Suffering is not fair and it is not equal. Some people suffer little while others seem to live a life of constant suffering. And oftentimes, the presence of suffering in this world is the very reason that a person cannot fathom a truly loving and almighty God.
The idea that God did not create the world with suffering, that it was not part of his original and perfect design, and yet he allows it to happen is very hard for us to understand. Sometimes we can wrap our minds around it intellectually but as soon as your friend loses a child or your sister is diagnosed with cancer, that idea gets harder and harder to swallow without choking.
Jesus came and chose to suffer, chose to endure pain, chose to die, chose shame and humiliation, chose separation from God in order to save us from eternal suffering. ---in order to ultimately reconcile all the broken pieces of creation.
God used suffering as the means to save us, and although suffering is a result from a world broken and distorted by sin, he continues to use it, use suffering, to save us.
I have a few friends, who like Jesus, have chosen suffering, have asked God to suffer for the sake of others and for God's plan. When I first heard a friend tell me this, my reaction was: "WHAT?! Why?!" I realize that suffering might be part of what God has in store for me but I don't think I'll ever ASK for it. In reality, I question whether any sane person could ask for it without being prompted by God to do so, without it being his plan first because asking for suffering goes against our very DNA as pain-avoiding and comfort-seeking creatures.
I have a friend Jacqueline who long before becoming ill, asked to suffer for the glory of God. Now as she is navigating being a new wife and mother, she prayed that God would heal her from her illness if that is what he wants. Her words on suffering are more profound than mine.
She recalls in her post:
I said to Father John, “I really do believe that Jesus can heal me of this disease overnight. I really do. He can do anything. But the problem is that long before I ever became really ill, I prayed that He would make me a saint. I asked to live out my purgatory on earth. And I also asked that, if He allowed it, I could suffer for the reparation of sins and the conversion of souls.”
Father John smiled wide and laughed. “Well, Saint Augustine said that if you want Jesus to answer a prayer quickly, ask Him to suffer. But, when Jesus allows suffering in our life He always does it with mercy and with love. And remember that when we ask Him to become saints, he chooses the path to get us there. He knows the best way for our soul. So, you’ve asked Him for these things, and you’ve asked Him to heal you so that you can be the best wife and mother possible. So, now, we wait. We wait to see what He does.”(To read more of this blog post:
https://4thenarrowroad.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/it-is-well-with-my-soul/ )
