Dear Family and Friends,

Our family is going through one of ‘those’ seasons, a pain-filled time in life we wish would just pass over us.

This week, we attended the first of the memorials being held for two uncles and an aunt we recently lost – in the span of a month. As I stood ministering to my once larger family, it was hard to look in the direction of my remaining maternal aunt sitting alone in the pew reserved for, and previously occupied by, her many siblings.

As we all know, the loss of loved ones is just one of a multitude of painful events we suffer throughout life.

And despite what many will try to tell you – life with Jesus is not exempt from pain.

If that were so, why would Paul and Peter write passages about enduring pain? (See Romans 8:17-18, 2 Corinthians 4:17, and 1 Peter 1:6-7.)

The Bible actually says when we will be exempt from pain. When the new heaven and the new earth come to be, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain…”  Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV

As we patiently wait for that day, let’s spend our time addressing a few common questions about pain and suffering.

In doing so, I will quote from Pastor, theologian, and best selling writer Timothy Keller’s book called, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (TK). It is my way of honoring this great man of God who also recently joined Jesus in Heaven.

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Because we live in a society that’s been conditioned into placing blame, the first questions we usually ask when something bad happens are: Why did this happen? And who is to blame?

According to Tim Keller and a host of other theologians, neither flawed individuals, a powerful satan, nor a corrupted earth can fully explain the root and sources of evil.

In Keller’s words, “It is a mystery.”

And because it is a mystery, the next questions we often ask are: Why Lord must I suffer? Why don’t You take this pain away?

Since God’s ways and His thoughts are higher than ours (SeeIsaiah 55:9), we may never know why God doesn’t take away our pain.

However, “it is important for people to see how the experience of suffering does not have to be a waste, and could be a meaningful though painful way to live life well.” TK

Can anything good come from pain and suffering?

We who endure and get through suffering become more resilient. Once we learn to cope, we know we can do it again and live life with less anxiety.

Suffering strengthens relationships, bonding us into deeper friendships.

And suffering “changes our priorities and philosophies.” TK

In what ways do my priorities and philosophies change?

We come to understand that:

“Nothing is more important than to learn how to maintain a life of purpose in the midst of painful adversity.” TK

“Suffering is at the very heart of the Christian faith. It is not only the way Christ became like and redeemed us, but it is one of the main ways we become like him and experience his redemption.

And that means that our suffering, despite its painfulness, is filled with purpose and usefulness.” TK

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Allow me to close with Romans 5:3-4 ESV which says, “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

There is nothing more essential than hope during times of suffering. Hope helps us to endure. And to become more like Christ.

And tragically, the loss of hope often leads us right back to unbearable suffering.

So, in what do we place our hope? 

“Christianity offers not merely a consolation but a restoration—not just of the life we had but of the life we always wanted but never achieved.” TK

Jesus promises to wipe every tear from our eyes. That there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things – our life as we know it today – will pass away.

Jesus will make everything new. To us He will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Jesus will be our God and we will be His children. (From Revelation 21)

This, my friends, is what we hope for.

In love always,