What I Want My Daughters to Know, Part 4

Suffering Produces Hope

I want you to know that suffering has a purpose. I do not know all of them, and neither will you, and that is blessedly exactly how it should be. If you spend your suffering asking “Why?” you will miss out on some of the richest gifts God intends for us in our shadow days. There is this one moment in the story of Job where he finally gets it. He says, “My eyes have seen God, and now I will shut my mouth,” essentially.  There is this foundational linking of seeing God and believing God, and if you’re struggling with the trusting God part, you need to refocus on seeing God. There are two essential truths that you must grow in believing: God is good and God is in control. You will waver on one or the other or both depending on the bent of your heart or the pain you’re facing, but I desire for you to be able to say what Job said, even in that hurt. You must see the suffering face of Christ who loved you so deeply he lived and died for you and hold that in tension with the absolute sovereignty of the creative power of this same Jesus, who holds all things together by the power of his word. You must see him to believe him and when you believe him you will know that suffering is not an accident or blunder or a reflection of the cruel indifference of our Lord. Suffering refines us. Suffering causes us to place our hope on eternal realities rather than a broken world. Suffering flings us into the arms of Jesus when there is no where else to turn. Suffering carves out more room in our hearts and souls for desperation and reliance upon Jesus, and few sweeter promises exist. Suffering reminds us that we are not yet Home, and deepens our hunger and anticipation for Heaven, while lessening our satisfaction with earth. My desire would be that you give thanks for your trials and hurts because they produce steadfastness, faithfulness, maturity, and ultimately hope.