Suffering

Much has been written about suffering over the centuries, and I'm not going to try to offer a treatise on the subject, but I was struck by Pastor Perry's first sermon point this morning, that Christians suffer joyfully. I've always struggled to understand the Apostle Paul's perspective when he talks about suffering, for he almost seems to enjoy it. However, I know Paul is not just a glutton for punishment. As we learned this morning, though, Paul sees himself as participating in Christ's sufferings when he suffers. And there is nothing like suffering to bring the body of Christ together in support of each other. It can even draw us closer to God as we depend on him.

All of this sounds rather trite, though, coming from someone whose most common form of "suffering" is having to stand in a long line at the grocery store, or wake up in the middle of the night to answer the cries of a child (well okay, my wife usually does that). So I wonder how this idea of suffering applies to the average TBC member? Many of you have dealt the aches and pains, broken bones and broken hips, or bodies that are slowing down. (These are reminders that our bodies were not meant to live forever, though our souls can live eternally with God!) Perhaps some of us face teasing or taunting from family or co-workers about our faith. But little suffering comes our way because we follow Christ.

Perhaps an application for me to think about is how I can react differently to the "stuff" that does come my way. When I do have to stand in that long line or follow a slow driver, how can I change my instant reaction of frustration to one of patience? Whatever I go through, how can I point to Christ during that time? I am encouraged when I hear stories of people walking through a crisis who use their circumstance as a chance to minister. Whether it's the patient in the hospital encouraging those who care for them, or someone who has suffered a loss who then turns around and comforts someone else who has lost someone, these are wonderful examples of how we can find joy in our suffering.

Any other ideas out there? I'd love to hear them.