Suffering works God’s transformation in us. The key is bending with the pain not against it; gliding in its direction, not turning the other way. Such eases the process and completes the work sooner.
RELEVANCE
Living in the north we had more experience driving on snow and ice than in the south. We learned that you steer with the skid, not against it. The more you turn the wheel in the opposite direction of the skid and press on the brakes, the wider your skid and more reckless your activity becomes. It’s the same with suffering and pain. Going with the flow of suffering and pain gets you out of it quicker. It also teaches you how to respond and live through adversity more victoriously.
“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12-13).
REFLECT AND RELATE
Think about the situations and conditions of the times you endured suffering. Do you see how perhaps you could have responded differently? Think about how you may be able to help others go through similar situations.
REFERENCES
Philippians 3:12-16