Weekly Roundup: Stories of Suffering
Unless you were born yesterday, you have suffered. Welcome to the human condition. This week’s roundup features stories from fellow sufferers. May you find hope in their struggle as they share how they found hope in our faithful God.
Resources
Thank God for a woman name Joni. You really need to read this.
Pain: Our Present Reality | Darby Strickland | CCEF
Strickland shares about her son’s undiagnosed neuromuscular disease, and what it means to suffer with him.
“It is hard to take in all the beauty when you are in pain.”
My Rope out of the Pit: The Word I Needed in My Worst Days | Vaneetha Rendall Risner
When I was abandoned by my former spouse, I fell headlong into the pit. It was as if I had been caught up in a whirlwind — one that picked me up from my happy, secure life and threw me into a dark well. For days, I sat there, alone, wondering if I had the strength to go on — or if I even wanted to. There was no light; everything in front of me was so black I couldn’t see. I couldn’t imagine living like this forever. I gave up on the idea of ever being happy again.
The Suffering and the Glory of Psalm 22 | W. Robert Godfrey | Ligonier Ministries
This is the story of a man who suffered more than anyone. First suffering, then the crown. First death, then the glory.
There’s No Coming to Life without Pain: An Interview with Elisabeth Elliot | Ligonier Ministries
This is Elisabeth Elliot at her best: no-nonsense, straight-forward, exaltation in the God of Scripture.
I tried to be stern with myself after my first husband, Jim, was killed. I made myself get rid of all his clothes. Then six weeks later I found a pair of his shoes in the closet. There was the shape of his feet just as plain as anything, and I was in a state of total self pity again. So again I had to offer up those emotions to God. I think every grieving person goes through this kind of thing, these little reminders. I open a book and here’s his handwriting, just one little word on the page. I think about his hand once being on that page. I do my best to let people know I’ve been there and that I am there.
In Ministry, Joy and Sorrow Don’t Cancel Each Other Out | Winston T. Smith | 9Marks
This is a story of suffering in the pastorate.
But after many years as a professional counselor, I found the singular focus on forgiveness and joy more and more troubling, even painful. My day-to-day life involved long hours with troubled, broken, and suffering people. As a result, I began to suffer much myself—and the disconnect between what I felt and what I saw on Sunday mornings became more and more jarring. I felt like I was being asked to paper over my feelings.
This dissonance made me wonder: do I really get the gospel?
The Necessity of Penal Substitution for Suffering Saints | Whitney Woollard | 9Marks
Almost four years ago, my husband and I contracted Lyme disease with its accompanying co-infections, viruses, and inflammatory conditions. I had crushing fatigue, brain fog, radiating pain, twitching and tremors, insomnia, depression, dizziness, nausea, and infections from my face to my ankles. It took two years to get a diagnosis and by then I had steadily deteriorated from the vibrant fireball people knew and loved to “Neal Woollard’s sick wife.” I worked hard to maintain my high energy and fast-paced life, but as treatment began I watched it all slip away. I missed writing deadlines, cancelled discipleship meetings and teaching events, and stepped back from opportunities I had dreamt about. I was losing everything but all I could think about was sleep. I just wanted to sleep. Who was this?
If you haven’t heard Mez’s story, I have two words: Brace yourself.
Photo by Tara Evans on Unsplash