Again, the words of Mike Mason: “In every season of suffering there comes a turning point. The turning point is not usually the point at which the suffering itself is alleviated. Rather, it is that time when it begins to dawn upon the sufferer that there may actually be a meaning to his pain” (The Gospel According to Job; Mike Mason; p. 427).
These are the words of the Apostle Paul: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:7-11 NASB).
To be sure, there is not one of us who enjoys suffering, but knowing that there is “meaning to our pain” does make a decided difference in the way we deal with it, especially knowing that it is our suffering that gives opportunity for the very life of Jesus to be manifested in our mortal flesh, i.e., our physical bodies.
Maybe your life has been free from suffering, but if you should tarry just a while, you will, in all probability, find that you are really not immune from it. None of us are! Certainly, no believer is. However, there is always meaning to our pain—always! You might not be able to see it, but rest assured that it gives opportunity for the life of Jesus to be manifested in your body, and that is most meaningful!
You think about this—
"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).
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