Making Sense of Suffering

Making sense of suffering – Wayne Brickey

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.

One anxiety is the fear of further pain: “How long will this last?” An even more terrifying and misleading link is, “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”  Our fond plans seem holy to us, as if they were the very plans of God.  Timid doubt thinks perhaps God himself has lost control.  And yet another anxiety may erupt: “No one cares.”  Self-centered, self-deceiving, and self-defeating, anxiety robs us of good cheer and chains us to a dungeon floor.

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer.

The truth is, our troubles are not so mighty when viewed from eternity.  We preceded the world and will long outlive it.  We can ignore its passing threats, smile at its thorns, and enjoy its good things.

Good cheer, so basic to our nature, is kindled by increasing the other “goods” in life.  Let surroundings be flavored with good music and natural beauty, with good tastes and smells.  Let words and works be unselfish.  Let associations be with others of good cheer.  Believe the good promises of God.  These things remind us of our home of light.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Stunning blows to the life of good souls are normal and should be expected.  But from him who overcame all things we have a commandment to be of good cheer.  It is our way of overcoming with him.

Sometimes God calms the Storm

Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms the child