All Things Work for Good

At this juncture, the causes of suffering begin to reflect their sublime purpose, which is ultimately good, not bad. Paul's indomitable Christian optimism blazed beyond his prison cell when he wrote, while still shackled, his poignant words to the Philippians: “I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance” (1:18-19).

For anyone asking the why of innocent suffering, God's word reiterates that the end result will be for one's good, as it was for Job.  Whatever the suffering--from a hangnail to a holocaust, from torture to a tornado--all things work together for the good of those who love [God], who are called according to his purpose [his will]"  (Roman 8:28, italics mine).  if suffering is truly for the good of those who love him, it is clearly one of the positive aspects of his mercy--providing good for us even from hurtful events in our lives.

Are we really willing to be “trained” by suffering or, for that matter, trained by any other rigorous spiritual formation? Paul was clearly trained by his false accusations and imprisonment, among other forms of suffering:

I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul saw too benefits beyond that of his own holiness:

 I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. (Philippians 1: 12-14)

This kind of response is rare among God's people, even out of the question for most of the faltering sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd. The exceptions are those precious souls who, like magnanimous apostle Paul, have allowed themselves to be open to God's grace. In doing so, they have learned that God's mercy is his answer to our misery.

To be "trained" by affliction is to find it always easy to surrender to the enfolding open arms and nail-pierced hands of our compassionate Savior. It is to have mastered the loving response to God's welcome in whatever circumstances his love permits. It is to incorporate into one's life a deeper meaning of the word heartfelt--namely, “taking to heart” the exciting revelations from our beloved Savior about the awesome mercy of God.

This excerpt is from the book The Awesome Mercy of God, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Books. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.