The Joy of Suffering

“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” – James 1:2-4

None of us like to suffer. We do not like pain, fear, or loss. There are many ways we suffer in this life and sometimes it is tempting to question, ‘God, why me?’ or ‘What did I do to deserve this? Is this punishment?’ St. Paul gives us encouragement by reminding us that suffering is never fruitless for those following Christ. He tells us that it is through suffering that our faith is strengthened. Suffering brings us the ability to focus more on the Lord because we are perfected through trials.

This is not the first time St. Paul addresses the purpose, and glory, of suffering. “And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’…For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) St. Paul had been shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, jailed, and had a ‘thorn in my side’. (I think we can all relate to that one) Yet, through it all, he sought to see God’s purpose.

St. Paul also provides a paradox between the suffering of Christians and the cross of Calvary. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me…who loved me and gave himself up for me.” (2 Corinthians 2:20) There is an intimate connection between those that give their life to follow Christ and to the suffering of Jesus. It is a way of obtaining grace and the power of God to participate in salvation.

It may be tempting for us to question why we face trials or sufferings. We might be led to believe, either by others or our own feelings, that it is because we have done something that deserved to be punished. When you are feeling like suffering and trials are pointless and negative, you should remember that we cannot expect our life to be lived free of pain. Our Lord Jesus did not escape this world without suffering, because it was through suffering that provided the graces for us to overcome sin. If he was unable to live his life without trials and suffering, then we should expect nothing less in our own life.

“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.” – St. Catherine of Siena