Growing Through SufferingSample

We Are Not Alone

Do you ever feel alone? Do you feel like others can’t identify with the trials you go through?

God’s Word reminds us that we experience the same temptations others do (1 Corinthians 10:13). For our encouragement and inspiration, God lovingly provides us with numerous examples of faithful people who suffered through trials (Romans 15:4-5). We may be able to identify with Abraham’s dislocation from his homeland, Joseph’s abandonment, Moses’ insecurity, David’s anxiety, Mephibosheth’s limitation, Elijah’s depression, or Jonah’s anger. These are just a few members of the “huge crowd of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) that have gone ahead of us in the life of faith. They all experienced some form of weakness. Each struggled, sinned, and eventually grew stronger in faith as a result of suffering. As we encounter the life stories of God’s people, we become motivated to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up” and to “run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Their stories of resilience help strengthen us for our own journey.

Above all, Jesus is our consummate example. Christ was “made in every respect like us” (Hebrews 2:17) and “faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Because of this, he is uniquely qualified to be our “merciful and faithful High Priest” (Hebrews 2:17), able to empathize fully with every aspect of the human condition. Whether we feel physical pain, endure rejections and abandonment, are impoverished, or feel weary or sad; Christ has felt it too. No matter what our circumstance, the Lord is able to connect with our experience. Because Christ has stood in our shoes, we can keep our eyes fixed on him, as “the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He blazes a trail before us, encouraging us to not grow weary, lose hope, or give up.

“Sharing in his death” through our suffering, enjoying his tender compassion for us along the way, we grow closer to Christ (Philippians 3:10-11). We learn to affirm along with Paul that everything is worthless compared to Christ and becoming one with Christ is the best thing (Philippians 3:8-9).

In our suffering, we are never alone. Jesus is our faithful and merciful companion on the journey. As he promised, he will always be with us (Matthew 28:20).