Sanctifying Power of Suffering

In Sunday School we are talking about the sanctifying power of suffering. Oh, yeah! When we are tempted to pray with all diligence for the easy life--adequate money, excellent health, hosts of friends, to be smarter than a fifth grader, etc.- then we would do well to remember that the suffering allowed/sent into our lives by the Most High God, the Chief Shepherd, the Lord of Hosts, the Bread of Life, the Lover of our Souls is allowed/sent for the purpose of conforming us to the image of the Son. Yet I/we pray with perseverance to be released from the suffering not caring that it is working in us a kind of glory. Shame, shame on me.

I have never considered myself a sufferer, but I have had some pretty hard knocks in life. Most of my own doing and one can hardly blame God for those. But what niggles my brain is the fact that God may send (has sent?) to me suffering, not of my own doing. Well, to be honest, I'm not too keen on that idea. And yet, I have to say, I want to be like Jesus (I want to want to anyway!), but I fall far short...far, far short.

Even so I have this comfort knowing that the Christ who began a good work in me will complete it and someday-and this a good part--I will be free of suffering after it has done its good work in me. And the best part is that someday I will never sin again.

With trepidation and resistance mixed with a bit of whining I say, "Dear Lord, bring on the suffering if this is what it takes."

And I will trust You. I will trust You. I will trust You.