Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
“The tendency of this or that novelist or poet may represent suffering as wholly bad in it’s effects, as producing, and justifying, every kind of malice and brutality in the sufferer. And, of course, pain, like pleasure, can be so received: all that is given to a creature with free will must be two-edged, not by the nature of the giver or of the gift, but by the nature of the recipient. And, again, the evil results of pain can be multiplied if sufferers are persistently taught by the bystanders that such results are the proper and manly results for them to exhibit. Indignation at others’ sufferings, though a generous passion, needs to be well managed lest it steal away patience and humanity from those who suffer and plant anger and cynicism in their stead.
But I am not convinced that suffering, if spared such officious vicarious indignation, has any natural tendency to produce such evils. I did not find the front-line trenches or the C.C.S. [battlefield Casualty Clearing Stations] more full than any other place of hatred, selfishness, rebellion, and dishonesty. I have seen great beauty of spirit in some who were great sufferers. I have seen men, for the most part, grow better not worse with advancing years, and I have seen the last illness produce treasures of fortitude and meekness from most unpromising subjects. I see in loved and revered historical figures, such as Johnson and Cowper, trait’s which might scarcely have been tolerable if the men had been happier. If the world is indeed a ‘vale of soul making’ it seems on the whole to be doing it’s work.”
C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in The Problem of Pain (New York: HarperCollins, 1996) 108-109.
This has been a rough week.
My wife has been quite ill with sinus and ear infections and my back pain resurfaced with some magnitude. I decided to welcome suffering as a gift and explore the thinking of Lewis on the topic. I’m glad I did. So many people who suffer have had their “patience and humanity” replaced with “anger and cynicism” because they have bought the line that suffering is bad. It’s certainly not comfortable, but it is not bad either.
Then suffering came up on Tuesday during Bible study with my neighbor, Ken.
“Gary, since we’ve been studying the Scriptures with you, it seems like my suffering has gotten worse.” He was not exaggerating as his wife, Carol, has had a difficult year with numerous physical ailments in addition to his own aches and pains. “But in trusting in Christ through it all I have changed. I have hope, and hope is the second greatest gift next to God’s love.” I’ve seen hope replace anger in Ken’s heart. It’s been beautiful to watch.
Ken echoed the Apostle Paul. Character, hope and love are generous gifts Christ gives those who suffer.
Father in heaven, produce character and hope within us through our suffering because of your love poured out on us by your Holy Spirit. Form “great beauty of spirit” and help us “grow better not worse with advancing years” so that our last illnesses produce “treasures of fortitude and meekness” in us by your grace and Spirit working within us. Thanks that despite the pain, we have hope because of your great love. Amen.