Embracing Suffering: A Journey of Faith

My last post, Coping With Loneliness: A Personal Journey, dealt with my feelings about my current medical condition. I was frustrated and yes, lonely. But God knew that already. He heard my heart as I typed every word. Do you know what God did? He met me right where I was, in the middle of the pit of my own despair.

The next morning I was up early, really early as usual. I grab my iPad and started reading the Bible. These days I’m reading the Message version. I like reading different versions to open my eyes to what God is trying to teach me. I was in the book of Mark learning about all the miracles and healings Jesus did.

I came across these verses on suffering and carrying your cross. I really had no idea what it meant to ‘carry your cross’. All I could picture is the man carrying Jesus’ cross up the hill. How on Earth was I supposed to do that? Thank you Lord for opening my eyes!

Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬-‭38‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? “If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.””

Embrace suffering? How do you do that? So That got my interest peaked. I headed over to the Amplified version for more…

Mark 8:34-38 AMP

34 Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross[expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me[believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake and the gospel’s will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God]. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]? 38 For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”  Mark 8:34-38 AMP

That I can do. I can definitely have a willingness to endure whatever may come. I can set aside my personal interests and follow Jesus, even if it includes suffering or death because of my faith in Him. I believe in Jesus. I believe in life after death. I believe in Heaven. I believe in no more suffering and no more sorrow and no more tears. Thank you Holy Spirit for leading me to the truth!

‭Here are more Bible verses on suffering:

Romans 8:18, which compares present suffering to future glory;

Romans 5:3, which says suffering builds endurance, character, and hope; and

1 Peter 2:21, which notes that Christ’s suffering provides an example for believers to follow.

Other verses like Isaiah 43:2 and Psalm 119:50 offer comfort and promise God’s presence during difficult times. 

For encouragement and endurance

• Romans 5:3-5: “…we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame…” 
  
• Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” 
  
• James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 
  

For understanding Christ’s suffering and example

• 1 Peter 2:21: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 
  
• 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…” 
  
• Isaiah 53:3-4: “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain… Surely he took up our pain and bore our sorrows…” 
  

For God’s presence and comfort

• Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you…” 
  
• Psalm 34:19: “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” 
  
• Psalm 119:50: “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise has given me life.” 
  
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”