We all know that suffering is an inevitable part of everyone’s life.  Even though we wish to avoid it, try as we might it is always lurking in the background, waiting to rear its ugly head.   

Some suffering is self-imposed. We often wish for things we don’t have and think we need and waste our time and energy pining away for them. We also may eat or drink too much and later suffer from these overindulgences.

Some of our suffering is out of our control such as the loss of a loved one, when we are ill from a disease we have no control over or when we have been involved in some kind of accident that was not our fault. Currently the grief and misery the people of Ukraine are experiencing as a result of the Russian invasion is causing immense pain and suffering for millions with no end in sight.

We have been told suffering builds character, but that doesn’t mean we like it.  The 19^th Century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote the aphorism, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and there was even a song “Stronger” written and performed by pop-artist Kelly Clarkson which featured the same words and life lessons of suffering leading to resilience.

We are in the midst of Lent which we all know is a time of reflection and observing the suffering of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness leading up to his crucifixion, the greatest suffering of all.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, we find an affirmation of this promise. Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from God.

We know of God’s unconditional love for us through giving us His Son Jesus and His offer of eternal life.  Even in our worst time of anguish, this is promised to us.  We just need to seek Him AND prayer for ending the suffering of others.  Thanks be to God.

Patty