Allowing Suffering To Make Us, Not Break Us
By Rachael St. Germain
God's Brave Women - Rachael's Story
Most of us have a hate-hate relationship with suffering and want to avoid it at all cost. It can be hard to own up to this truth, though, because it goes against everything we’ve been taught to believe.
Throughout the Bible, we’re told that suffering is a good thing. Something God uses for us to free us from the things that are ruining us and shape us into the people He intends us to be.
Teachers like James and Paul even go so far as to encourage us to rejoice in suffering and count trials as blessings. We’re encouraged to allow our hard things to “hurt so good” because ultimately, they produce good things for us. Like endurance, character, and a closer relationship with God. (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4)
Well, this sounds all well and good.
But can I be honest?
Admittedly, the whole “give thanks for your problems” thing has always been a struggle for me. I mean, I wish I could always see hardships as opportunities God’s using for me. But in reality, it can sometimes feel like hard things are happening to me.