“Suffering is not just a river to be crossed on the way to the Promised Land. It is the conquered stallion upon which we ride into that land.” ~ Christopher Powers
“That I let love heal and glorify my wounds.” ~ from Litany of Let Love by Sr. Mariae Agnus Dei, SV
2 Corinthians 4:17-18a ESV “This light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen.”
Philippians 3:10-11 NIV “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
I’ve been pondering lately whether it is too easy to say, “Jesus died for me,” and so focus only on his moment of death while not considering all the suffering he endured leading up to his death. THAT suffering was for me, too.
Consider these: leaving his heavenly home, loss of his earthly dad, poverty (compared to heaven), ridicule, misunderstanding, attempted murder, false accusations, betrayal, abandonment, being ganged up on, beaten, flogged, and crucified.
Consider our sufferings: Some of us have food insecurity and have depended upon non-perishables from the food pantry or have wondered how to pay for housing. We’ve been misjudged and have lost friends. Fathers and mothers have abandoned us. Our actions have been the topic of gossip or blame. Some of us live with incredible pain, crippling anxiety, depression, or addiction every day. People and animals we love have died. Dreams have dissolved in our own hands.
So how does our suffering turn into glory?
Christ suffered up to and including the Cross. Pain we can only imagine. How? He was obedient to the Father. He believed there was a higher purpose and this was not for nothing. His sufferings created wounds in his body, which now absorb our sufferings. When we ask him to glorify our wounds and wrap that request in faith, believing, just as he did, there is a higher purpose to it all, he absorbs our wounds into his. We no longer carry them, as they are also nailed to the cross.
In this way, we become like Christ. It is beautiful and mysterious. It takes practice and commitment. It builds persistence and tenacity. We will soon find peace in his presence, joy in his strength, and love flowing through our veins.
Then, after we have learned to conquer that stallion of suffering and ride it into the Promised Land, our hand is extended to show the next person, along with the hand of Christ, who actually holds the reins.
Reflection
*What suffering do I need to surrender to Christ?
*Tell him all about it.
*Then ask him to absorb that wound into his wounds. It may help to imagine this in your mind or actually draw a picture.
*Ask Jesus, “What does this wound look like when it is glorified?”
*Quiet your heart and mind. Listen for his voice. Write down what he says so you don’t forget.
~ Stephanie Rogers, writer
~ Christopher Powers, www.fullofeyes.com, artist
Thank you, Stephanie, for writing this. It really made me think about ALL of Jesus’ suffering while on earth, not just the Cross, and how that made Him a compassionate and understanding Savior!