blessed suffering

“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4

God blesses those who follow him, but as we know, he also allows blessing for those who ignore or deny him. And he also calls us to suffer with him. What can we make of this paradox?

We need to see thing with fresh eyes, closer to God’s perspective, as much as we are permitted. And often times we just can’t give all the answers. What, in the grand scheme of things, is true blessing? Are we perhaps narrow minded in our understanding of what constitutes blessing? If Jesus was blessed and ended up ridiculed and tortured, what are we to think?

For me, the deepest seasons of suffering (seemingly opposite of blessing and prosperity) have ended up being the times when I have drawn closest to God. Those times break me and knock me down on my face – the very humbled posture I need in order to cry out to God for forgiveness, help and healing. Is this not a beautiful posture to have before God? Then, in those healing moments, I realize that my closeness to God was a result of suffering and trial. If our suffering is a result of following Jesus despite fear and discomfort, we also have the opportunity to worship God through it and to walk closely with God along the way.

Explicit blessing can also be from God. Jesus feasted and celebrated with all kinds of people. He healed people and wanted to make their life better. God wants us to enjoy good gifts and to honor God in the process.

But we all know we’ve also abused blessing. We've worshiped the gift instead of the Giver. We’ve abused our power. We've abused our freedom. We’ve been bad stewards of God’s wealth. In our blessing, we’ve isolated ourselves with soundproof walls of comfort and security that have deafened our ears to the screaming and moaning of those crying out for dignity and justice. Our blessing becomes the curse for us all. Or, it can be used to bless those who are suffering.

Jesus was blessed and he suffered. He feasted and fasted. He said that we are blessed when we mourn and when we undergo persecution for righteousness’ sake (Matthew 5:4, 10). He was condemned and tortured and killed and then invited us to follow him. But his suffering is counted as a blessing because he was resurrected, and through him, we have life – we are blessed.

My prayer is that I won’t prematurely categorize blessing and suffering. I want to see the blessedness of suffering and the slippery slope of blessing. I want God to change the way I see everything.