Suffering! The Question that doesn't seem to go away!

The Question that doesn't seem to go away!

Most of those who believe and those who don't, if given a chance to ask God one question say they would ask him; [WHY IS THERE SO MUCH SUFFERING IN THE WORLD?] There is not one answer to the question of suffering especially if sought from any human or material sources. However we all find the times of suffering really hard to deal with. This is the question that both theists (believers in God) and atheists (disbelievers in God) wrestle with everyday, a question that is asked across all generations and of course one that is asked in all nations. Whether it is physical, emotional, spiritual, social, intellectual or financial suffering not one form of suffering leaves us unstirred. Suffering often tends to push us to either frustration or desperation if not both; it often reminds us of our limitations as human beings against our deep longing to keep all things in control. There are so many times we fall into the trap of saying it is fine just to make it look so when often it is not the case.

Though suffering may stare at us wherever we face

Though its sting may scare us whenever we rise

Though it may, there’s ‘the but’ the but’ that turns the story round

 For but there is an arch that stretches further than suffering, the arch of hope

There is a voice that to our ears whispers louder than pain, the voice of hope

There is a light that no darkness will ever abate, the light of hope

There is a strand that is anchored firmly to eternity, the strand hope

How then do we deal with that which we can hardly run or hide from? How do we sail through the darkness of suffering or perhaps live a little longer or a bit better in it. There are those who choose to 'ignore it' and just move on, others do their best to maintain an external aura of wellness while the inner soul coils in pain and sorrow, others dare to share their struggle with family and close friends for care or prayer, others look for all sorts of ways to get out of it and sadly some ways just make it worse. Times we wish suffering is taken away, times we wish we could have a smooth ride across the path of life, we wish that one day the tides will calm and the storms tranquil. Sometimes our wishes are granted and other times they are not. When we sit or stand next to a colleague or a family member who the curtain of life is slowly drawing to a close and there is so little we can do. When we watch things move from bad to worse and we can't help. That time when even our best doesn't seem to count as much as we wish it could; such times we all so dread yet still we still dare to hope. When our identity seems challenged and our esteem feels mocked, when our efforts to belong all seem to ever take so long, when the only news there is all bad or sad news. Whether it is a simple issue we are going through or an issue enveloping us in miasma, suffering seems to be the question that doesn't seem to go away.

Though suffering may stare at us wherever we face

Though its sting may scare us whenever we rise

Though it may, there’s ‘the but’ the but’ that turns the story round

 For but there is an arch that stretches further than suffering, the arch of hope

There is a voice that to our ears whispers louder than pain, the voice of hope

There is a light that no darkness will ever abate, the light of hope

There is a strand that is anchored firmly to eternity, the strand hope

Often when talking of suffering we find it so tempting to offer intellectual clues and cues; perhaps it is all we can do at certain time. It is always within us a deep desire to offer help and to offer it quickly. The issue of suffering though; doesn't seem offer any room for quick fixes and instant remedies. The intellectual responses all seem to hit the flames of suffering and then bounce back in speed. Times whatever consolation we get seems to flow through one ear and flow out through the other. The heart tends to feel so cold and not any listening or reading seem to give it the much longed for peace. Yet daily we forge forth and hope for a better tomorrow if ever we can get to see the tomorrow. I may not say so much about suffering because I too find it a tough battle to speak of with succinct clarity and even a tougher one to be in. Not once or twice have I been in situations of suffering, others spreading so long and others hitting so close and deep to my being. Through it all I still manage to look back and make some deep discoveries through the reflection of painful times. Suffering is so personal and every case so unique in how deep it heats or hurts us, plus of course what it leaves of us when it goes.

Though suffering may stare at us wherever we face

Though its sting may scare us whenever we rise

Though it may, there’s ‘the but’ the but’ that turns the story round

 For but there is an arch that stretches further than suffering, the arch of hope

There is a voice that to our ears whispers louder than pain, the voice of hope

There is a light that no darkness will ever abate, the light of hope

There is a strand that is anchored firmly to eternity, the strand hope

Of suffering still there are indelible marks that live on and deep within which there are lessons so valuable in life. I know there side of me that may want to wish that there had never been any suffering through all of my life, but there is also another side of me that looks back at the glow in the shaping, the pruning, the equipping and the learning that my endurance has reaped me. The side that sees the deep love relationships and friendships that that have sprout from the suffering. There growth in the ability to trust, to hope and even to surrender all in the Almighty’s hands. Suffering has drawn me closer to God than any of my earthly pleasure; it points me to seek help from outside myself; to seek and trust my loving Lord. It has taught me how any pleasure, big or small if unwatched builds me a castle of selfishness and ungodliness. I believe and have experienced God in my toughest moments in life than anywhere else, the truth is though, that not in laughter or joy have I gone through tough moments but in the tears of pain and struggle there has been one whose great love has held me so close and so dear that I can never doubt it. Him alone, my Lord and his everlasting love not a thing in this life would I consider worthier. Where would I be without you, my Lord?

Though suffering may stare at us wherever we face

Though its sting may scare us whenever we rise

Though it may, there’s ‘the but’ the but’ that turns the story round

 For but there is an arch that stretches further than suffering, the arch of hope

There is a voice that to our ears whispers louder than pain, the voice of hope

There is a light that no darkness will ever abate, the light of hope

There is a strand that is anchored firmly to eternity, the strand hope