The Beauty in Suffering

We have been living in this digital age, where we are very proud of sharing our highlights and our mountains online, hiding most of our valleys of struggles and sufferings. It's a sad age to be in honestly, where we are so used to concealing all the bad and just showing off all the good that is in our lives. In reality, it takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable and share your darkest times with the world. Many times, I questioned why I was being blasted with a lot of struggles, from before I came to know God on a personal level, even up until today. All this time, I fought with never-ending doubts, and a question suddenly came to me, "Why me?" and God answered me with "Why not you?". I was in awe of this because it meant that God had clearly marked in me a purpose in all my sufferings. I should let go of all the questions and trust Him with His plans for me and my life. There was a lot of unlearning and relearning throughout that process, but I didn't let myself get stuck with all the uncertainty. I placed my eyes and moved through life with the lens of God's Word.

Many people expect that once one decides to live for God, there won't be suffering anymore. But in fact, it's more of the opposite. Humans, as we are, are bound to experience trials and challenges. It's a tough one because we need to discern that we are living for God and not for and in this world. I believe that through suffering, we are able to understand God's heart and intent for every situation.

If you have followed me for quite a while, you know I have been open about sharing my vulnerabilities and sufferings, whatever life aspect it may be; from sickness, heartbreak, loss, abandonment, and mental health struggles. I am always open to it. Not because I wanna boast about how strong I am, but how strong my God is. He never failed to remind me that I am not alone in my suffering. He constantly reassured me that every detail in my life has been orchestrated by Him and there is no wasted pain. He refined me amidst my suffering. That's the beauty of it. God counseled my worried heart and led me to accept that these things needed to happen because of His greater purpose. If not for my struggles, I wouldn't even realize that I needed a savior, that I needed God in the first place.

The presence of pain and suffering is necessary to grow and mold us. It stands in the need for us to realize that we are called to boast about our weaknesses, for people to witness that God's grace is sufficient. In this world, there will always be troubles, but let's take heart that even with its presence, Jesus overcame the world. On the darkest nights, we will be confident that the light will come. Through suffering, I am able to expose that my faith will strengthen along the way, and I should just learn how to suffer well. And that's the beauty in suffering.

'But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'

-2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV