029: Rest in Suffering

March 16, 2010
1 Peter 4-5

Suffering is not usually what we think of as being on the top of our list of things to desire in life. Nor is “suffering” usually synonymous with “rest.” But I don’t think it has to be that way. I assert that there are times when suffering CAN be the restful thing… And yes, that might be a little twisted and weird, but hang in here with me!

Peter focuses a lot on suffering of Christ. I think it’s quite simple: if we are avoiding suffering for Christ, then I doubt we’re truly at rest, because we are SUPPOSED to suffer for Christ if we are truly Christians. If you are not a Christian, regardless of whether you’re suffering or not, you’re probably not deep down, on a soul level, at rest. If you ARE a Christian, and are evading suffering for Christ, you’re also probably not at rest. Thus, by process of elimination, if you are suffering and it is for Christ, even though it is suffering, you are probably at rest. Somewhere. Deep down in that soul.

The trouble seems to come if we aren’t sure whether we’re suffering for Christ or not. It seems fairly cut and dry, doesn’t it? But then again, it’s not. I’ve been experiencing what I would chalk up as a sort of emotional suffering – something akin to grief – and I’m really not sure it’s for the cause of Christ or not. Life tends to get a bit messy and complicate at times. Is grief over someone’s death suffering? And if so, is it suffering for Jesus?

But then Peter takes the shift off the CAUSE of the suffering and focuses on the HOW of the suffering. He claims that we need to suffer in a way that pleases God, because that is honoring to God. And then he assures his readers that God will never fail us. I think keeping that in mind IS the proper manner of suffering: if we can live in the light and reality of God going to the extent of allowing Jesus to die, it’s pretty obvious that God is not going to let us down. Once we get that through our brains, our suffering suddenly either has purpose, or at least has a redeemable quality – namely, that we can suffer with hope.

Rest is important, but rest is also not a reality all the time. There are seasons of suffering and grief. I’m striving to have a restful spirit even as a walk through valleys of suffering, grief, and disappointment.

Oh Lord, let me rest in the knowledge of who You are and what You have done for me.