Pain & SufferingSample

Hope after pain

Just before Easter last year, Mum was told her life was ending. For much of my life, Mum had suffered with chronic illness. When Dad rang that Easter Sunday, it was clear the next few months were going to be worst of all.

For all her life, Mum prayed with and for anyone who asked. She had stopped counting God’s answers to all those prayers – but there were plenty. Where had ours for her healing gone then? For her to take a deep breath without fear of infection, to laugh without gasping for air. She loved to laugh.

I have read James’ words alone and aloud for much of my life. Before grief, I had relegated Paul, Job, and other faith heroes under siege, to the role of biblical proofs that God’s perfect plan works out in the end. But this was my mum. And God, just in case you hadn’t noticed, she’s spent her life singing your praises.

There was an open mic at Mum’s memorial service. I was reluctant about that, but Dad was insistent. The service went long that day as strangers (to me) stood to share their love for Mum, and her joyful hope in Jesus that shone through her lengthy illness. When Paul wrote ‘we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope’ (Romans 5:3b–4 NIV), he was spot on. That was Mum’s story.

Hope has a new shape after Mum’s passing. It’s not merely strength to persevere, but strength from it.

Written by Dwayne Jeffries