As I continue to learn about suffering, I’ve been reading [1] Joni Eareckson Tada’s book, “[2] The God I Love.” Joni writes about her whole life in such a vivid and touching style. Joni leaves out no details of the struggles she has had in her life before and after her accident which led to quadriplegia. She literally paints a picture of true suffering and her day to day wrestling with pain, sorrow and her God.

Everyone is talking about suffering today because of [3] Terri Schiavo. Of course there are some people including her husband who would want her life to end because she is suffering. I have shared before about how [4] my wife is in constant pain and has bone crushing fatigue from her struggles with chronic illness. Suffering is a daily burden for my wife, but she still wants to live this life.

As I read today, Joni zeros in on a true view of suffering as she writes about a trip to Africa.

Here in the sub-Sahara, it seemed that the weaker people were, the harder they had to lean on God - the harder they leaned on him, the greater their joy. It was so different in America, I thought. In the West, we think God exists to make our lives happy, more meaningful and trouble-free. Suffering is a hateful word, and we do anything to eradicate it, medicate it, circumvent it, or divorce it, building hospitals and institutions to alleviate suffering. But in Ghana, people seemed more ready to come to God in empty-handed spiritual poverty, taking from his hand whatever he might offer.

Societal elites would have you believe that suffering is always wrong and should always be avoided. But how can we grow without pain. I remember my coach in high school always pointing out to that ‘without pain there would be no gain.’ Suffering is an inevitable part of life. Paul states in Philippians 3:10 “that I may know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed unto His death.” If we as Christians in this life are to be like Christ in all things, we must suffer as he did. Pray for Terri and be thankful for her as she truly is being ‘conformed unto His death’ and as Paul continues in verse 11 “in order that she may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

We must all daily bear our crosses, real crosses with real pain and suffering, in order for us to be real humans. Pray for those who currently suffer. Remember that one day you will have trials and tribulations too and just as they people in Ghana, come to God empty handed, ready for what he will offer in Christ.