The Art of Suffering – Way to Grow

Anyone who has suffered— and who hasn’t? -  has wished for a simple solution to the ever-present problem of pain, suffering hardship, and tribulation that plagues all of us earthlings.

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, the "mystery of misery" has been much complained about but seldom explored in depth by the average person. But Christ unveiled much of that mystery by his teachings on suffering; he also affirmed it existentially by undergoing a life of suffering, capped by a torturous death. "He suffered death so that... he might taste death for everyone" (Heb 2:9). Identifying with us in our human anguish, he showed divine sympathy and taught the art of suffering by his example

"In this world you will have trouble," Christ assured the disciples (Jn 16:33). Indeed, given the fact of original sin, life's hurts truly are inevitable. But what escapes most people is that these hardships can produce a response that is not bitter, but bittersweet. There is sweetness in suffering - but how few find it! Do you know many who follow Paul's injunction to “rejoice in sufferings" (Rom 5:3)? Many who can exclaim with him, "For the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties" (2 Cor 12:10)? Many who consistently follow the urging of James: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds" (Jas 1:2)? Paul's "delight" and James' "pure joy" in adversity are gratifications that faith-weak souls never taste,

Of course, it is not the suffering itself that we are told to rejoice in but rather the beneficial results of the suffering.  God does not expect us to thrill at the news that a loved one has been stricken with cancer or that we have lost our job or that our child has Down Syndrome. "Give thanks in all circumstances," Paul tells us—not for all circumstances— “for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (l Thes 5:18). (In fact, God intends us to actively seek every means of alleviating such suffering; only when we have exhausted the possibilities should we “offer it up" with resigned—yet ever trusting—hearts.)

We are to rejoice and be thankful because we believe that God will work through such things for our ultimate good, even though that good is not immediately apparent. The only requirements are that we continue to love God and conform to his will and purpose (see Romans 8:28).

To greet every one of life's hurts with joy and thanks, with love for the God who sends or permits the adversity, and with gracious accommodation to his plan—this is the real art of suffering. And this is the example Jesus set for us. The author of Hebrews tells us to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross" (Heb 12:2). Thus, if we are to grow spiritually, we must look beyond our hurts to the joy that is ahead, in union with the perfecter of our faith.

The road of the cross is really a crossroad—a junction of choice. We must turn either right or left, choose either to accept each cross or rebel against it. We all want to grow, of course, but we tend to resist the process of accepting the crosses required for growth. We focus on the hurtful events instead of using the eyes of faith to see the growth that God intends through them.

Jesus explained that a soul must be painfully pruned or cut back (the bitter part of suffering) in order for it to enjoy the sweet fruitfulness to which it is called. Only faith-hardy souls— branches that remain vitally linked to the Vine—submit to being cut back; faith-weak souls are cut off by the divine Gardener as fruitless branches (see John IS:1-4). This is the basic rationale for suffering, or to the point of pruning – growth to the point of fruitfulness. But how easy it is to lose sight of this truth when one is struggling with the crushing weight of one's cross!

This excerpt is from the book The Art of Loving God by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications, 1995. This 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.