Sanctification through Suffering

We live in a world that spends exorbitant amounts of money pursuing ease and pleasure with the intention of making life seem better.  As if somehow the elusive search for happiness is reached by avoiding stress and the "right" life is defined as one in which suffering is so minimized that it can be considered to no longer exist.  A surface study into the viral growth in anti-depressant usage in America reveals a culture that is obsessed with "feeling" better.  Unfortunately, this runs in opposition to how Scripture speaks about this immensely important issue.

At the onset of this discussion, consider Jesus, who requires His followers to pick up their crosses (Matt. 16:24).  We are also called as Christians to emulate Jesus, suffering in this life with the grace and humility that He did (1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 5:1-2).  These are not simply pithy sayings to encourage us to wear rosaries or get crosses tattoos.  Rather, this exhortation is to remind us that a Christian's lot in this life is one of joyous perseverance amidst suffering.

Consider two passages of Scripture, Romans 5:1-5 and James 1:2-4.  Both of these passages exhort believers to rejoice at the gift of trials and sufferings for it is in these times that we are being grown more like Christ Jesus.  Essentially, suffering is the breeding ground for character.  It is through perseverance that we cultivate patience, kindness, and enduring strength.  In a very real sense, Paul and James and all of the New Testament authors are quite clear in this regard, not that we should seek suffering but that we should rejoice in its usefulness for sanctification.

Nothing grows without soil, seed, tilling, nourishment, and time.  We, our very hearts, are the soil.  The Gospel, the Word of God, is the seed.  The tilling is suffering and trial.  The nourishment is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Another metaphor may illuminate this more.  Think of anaerobic exercise: muscular tissues and fibers are broken down as a result of continued resistance and the breaking down of muscular tissue allows for more blood to flow through the muscle thus spurring growth.  Suffering breaks us down but it is the breaking down itself that allows for more of Christ to flow into us.

In this regard, Peter speaks of suffering and trial as the refining of precious metals (1 Pet. 1:6-7).  Only under intense and destructive heat may the dross be separated from the gold. Similarly, only under the fires of suffering and persecution may we be refined to be more like Christ.  Therefore, we should take joy in our sufferings not because God will use them to make us more in His image.  Again, this in no way means that we should not grieve or that we should not hurt or that suffering is less painful.  Instead, we can see suffering as it is meant to be seen, namely as the soil for cultivating character.  Essential to this is the continual praise of God amidst the toil and strain.  But praise be to God that He would use suffering to grow us!