“… we also rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; perseverance, proven character, and character,
hope.” Romans 5:3-4
I used to teach women about the meaning and possible usages of
the spiritual gifts God gives his children (1 Corinthians 12-14). Surprising to many was discovering that their
natural-born tendencies were often the same as the spiritual gift(s) they
received.
As an example, when I took a
spiritual gifts inventory the first time, I was amazed to learn that my top spiritual
gift was leadership/administration. For,
even before knowing Jesus personally, it was natural for me to function in
those gifts. Since committing myself to
Christ, they are set apart by God’s Spirit for his purposes. However, my
secondary gift of evangelism was not natural to me. When I met my Lord, it then became my desire to glorify Him by bringing others into the Kingdom.
I say all this to admit: I was not born with the beautiful gift of
mercy. Some people are born with hearts that break easily for others. I was not one of them. Oh, that doesn’t mean I didn’t care (have sympathy), but it means if I
had not experienced it myself, I did not always feel their pain (have empathy).
Since my major surgery in
August and another in November, I find my heart now breaking for friends, loved
ones, and even strangers who are in physical pain. Because I experienced it steadily for several
months, my empathy meter rose dramatically.
I think of those who have little hope that their chronic pain will stop;
or those who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. I find myself praying fervently for people to
be relieved of their suffering, even more so than in the past.
My heart needed breaking for
what breaks God’s heart. He doesn’t want
us to suffer, but He does not allow our suffering to be wasted, either. He offers a way to learn from it and grow
closer to Him. For that I am grateful.
Our Lord Jesus certainly knows
what suffering is. As I was reading John
17-19 recently, the account of Jesus’s arrest and torture, it dawned on me in a
more empathetic way, that he willingly stepped into that scenario knowing that unbelievably
excruciating pain was ahead. He had you
and me in mind as he carried his cross to Calvary. Jesus accepted the suffering. He welcomed it because he kept his eye on the
prize.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame...” Hebrew
12:2
Could the prize for me have
been mercy gained through suffering? I believe so.
As we celebrate our Savior’s birth
this month; as we think of the baby in the manger, let’s remember also the
God-man on the cross who suffered, bled and died for our redemption. For you.
For me. And let’s take time to
pray for and show mercy to those who are suffering.
Merry
Christmas
