It’s a hard word, it’s a hard emotion. No one in their right mind wants and likes to suffer. Yet believers and non-believers alike suffer. Suffering is another attribute to the curse that was given in exchange back in Eden.
Since that black day many men, women and children have suffered; throughout the centuries it has grown to immeasurable proportions of human standards. We suffer emotionally, financially, mentally and physically. There are different levels of suffering yet none of the levels are better than the other. Because to the person who is suffering, its devastation to that person. In some cases we are familiar with suffering by its most common name when it comes to mental and emotional suffering called depression. Another name for suffering when our finances are thin is called pauper; poor or broke. A physical suffering is when our health has declined temporarily or permanently; the body has been attacked with violence or disease (which is violence also). As you read you can think of many ways you have suffered and of those who have suffered and maybe you and others are still suffering. Suffering has a companion that sometimes come along; you see it all depends on which level of suffering you are experiencing; he is anger. Some of us know when we are angry and we lash out in a healthy way and some of us don’t know when we are angry and we hold what we feel inside until like a kettle the whistle begins to blow. Then all hell breaks free in you and whoever is around GOD help them. Suffering and anger when they live together in the person, will torture that person to the point where freedom so he/she thinks is found in alcohol, drugs or sex. But this is not how healing for the soul begins; all alcohol, drugs or sex does is create a temporary numbness and that escape even momentarily is better than being reminded of the suffering you feel inside. In most cases with the exception of depression we look for a human connection; we don’t want to be alone and we surround ourselves with bodies, anybody just so we have a human connection. Depression on the other hand draws the individual from people; human connection is the last thing they want and darkness is a comfort. This is called hiding and solitude a place where the enemy can do his greatest damage to you.
When you need comfort from someone who understands, from a human standpoint its best to go speak with someone who has gone through what you are going through. From a spiritual standpoint JESUS has seen the pre-existence of the occurrence to what has caused you to suffer long before HE hung the sun and moon in the heavens. So you can’t surprise HIM when you go to HIM for help.
In all their suffering HE also suffered, and HE personally rescued them. In HIS Love and mercy HE redeemed them. HE lifted them up and carried them through all the years. Isaiah 63:9
All praise to GOD, the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. GOD is our merciful FATHER and the source of all comfort. HE comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort GOD has given us. 2 Cor. 1:3-4
You have the courage to endure all you need to do is recognize that you have courage; you have heart; you are not a punk; you can pray; praise; and think your way through this. I am a TV junkie and I relax by watching TV. When I begin to feel a wee bit solemn (I don’t like that feeling) I make sure I watch the funniest TV shows I can find. Who can go wrong with The Andy Griffith Show; Good Times; Sanford and Son; All in the family; The Flintstones; The Nanny; Seinfeld; and so much more you get my meaning.
Before you know it after hours of a good laugh you find yourself singing. Now for those of you who are into hip-hop; I don’t know how you can find encouragement to uplift you when you are suffering. So all I can say is I hope that you appreciate music from the past that where fun and violence free. Songs like My Girl; ABC; The Twist; Rock Around The Clock; Bertha Butt Boogie; Aqua Boogie, I could go on and on.
Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted HIS people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. Isaiah 49:13