Come What May
In this life, we will have trouble, Jesus tells us in John’s gospel. He goes on to share that we must take heart, because he has overcome the world, and saved us by His sacrifice (John 16:33).
It’s comforting to read these words, and for me, sometimes easy to put them into a nice and neat little rubric. Trouble? Check. Jesus saves: Got it. But if I’m being honest, it is another thing entirely to press into a space where I am facing suffering and actually doing the hard work to find meaning and purpose in and through it.
Crying Out in Our Pain
When faced with suffering, we can and should pour out our hearts to our Lord, and cry and yell and beg him to deliver us, heal us, help us, and save us. He wants to hear it all, and he wants to be a safe place for us to fall when the weight of this world is too heavy.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
— Matthew 5:4
And we can lean into our community of friends and faithful sisters, and be real and authentic about our struggles, and receive inspiration and hope that are a true balm to our hurting hearts. There is such consolation in true vulnerability that can be received with love and tenderness from trusted friends.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other one up.
— Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
The Reality of Suffering
But still, suffering exists. It is a reality that we will live with in this world as we walk toward eternity. It will intersect our lives and hearts in many different ways and for some of us it will come very close and hurt very deep and for others we will observe it from afar and mourn the way it affects those around us; but no matter how it manifests in each of our lives, it’s there.
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
— 2 Timothy 3:12
Just as you may be, I am currently in a season where there is suffering close to me and to my tender heart. And just as you may be, I am striving to endure it, persevere through it, and yes, to see meaning and purpose in it. And I really do perceive strength, hope and love flowing from this endeavor, but still, I am faced with the reality that the battle is real.
The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still.
— Exodus 14:14
Learning from Christ’s Suffering
I am very good at rejoicing with the Lord and praising him and falling on my knees in gratitude for the good I see around me. But suffering? Not so much.
I have prayed with the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary for years and marveled at Jesus’ unwavering faith, and of Mary’s. I meditate with deep sorrow in my heart particularly during the Scouring at the Pillar. The scene that portrays this agony in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ is seared into my memory.
The first time I watched it, my heart felt ripped open. I lost my breath and tears streamed down my face watching our Lord suffer, as His mother was forced to witness the horror. How? How did they experience such intense suffering and not simply break?
With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
— Matthew 19:26
Walking Through the Valley
Perhaps you are in a valley now, my friends. Perhaps your heart is aching because you are suffering as a mother, a daughter, a spouse, a friend… perhaps you are witnessing, or dealing with firsthand, illness, addiction, financial worries, mental health crises… or maybe you are grieving a loss or a heartbreak that is so tender and complex and confusing that it is only truly known to you and God.
For we know he works all things for his good, for those who love him who are called according to his purpose.
— Romans 8:28
And perhaps instead of an action or plan for addressing our suffering, we first need to rest in that space of pain and allow God to be present with us, to gaze upon us and love us in our suffering.
Can you perceive God speaking to you:
Yes, daughter, suffering is so real and so hard. And no, it might not go away anytime soon. Will you come to Me and let me give you strength through my Word and my sacraments and My presence and the presence of those I’ve put in your life? I know the burdens are hard to bear. Can you lean into them and let me help you?
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
— Isaiah 26:4
The Redemption of Suffering
Suffering can be redemptive, and holy, and purifying. But to reach that point we must surrender. We must live with our feet planted firmly on the ground and our heart gazing toward heaven.
From this posture, we are open and docile to the Holy Spirit. We can accept pain and suffering, and gently and meekly offer it toward heaven.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
— Matthew 5:5
By accepting our crosses, then, we attempt to follow the model of our ultimate Redeemer, who gave all without counting the cost. The Redeemer shows us true redemption through total and complete surrender to the Father.
Come near to God and he will come near to you.
— James 4:8
An Invitation to Draw Near
Draw near to the Father, my sweet sister in Christ. Don’t be afraid to share your broken heart with Him. He wants you to surrender it to His merciful care.
Receive Him in the Eucharist, open your Bible and read His Word, gaze on Him in Adoration. He waits, willing and wanting to hold you close. Ask Him to purify your wounds, to take your lack of understanding and your hurt and your heartache and make all things new.
The Precious Blood of His most Sacred Heart will strengthen, sustain and nourish you in this life, come what may.