Suffering
Perhaps this tender, unpleasant topic is seldom leisurely contemplated, only forcibly thrust into mindfulness as in these times of disease, death, loss of employment, financial reversal, fear and other miseries which, unfortunately, constitute but a sample of the pains and afflictions humankind experiences.
Our existence on earth (and more so in many other parts of the earth) is not called a vale of sorrow (Alma 37:45) for no reason. And no wonder the Savior called the Holy Ghost and Himself Comforters (John 14:16, 18).
Suffering is conflictingly many things. It’s a brutal teacher. It’s a benevolent mentor. It’s a just rewarder of the evil; it’s a merciless torturer of the innocent. It slows time, but it may quicken our senses. It softens hearts; it hardens hearts. It comes by God, the adversary, man, nature, chance, and the fallen state of the world. It shouts and insists on being heard, but we often don’t get its reason, which only adds to the despair. Surely it is a consequence of sins and errors—ours and others’, individuals’ and nations’—and letting the wicked fill their cup of iniquities. But it is also a prerequisite for sanctification (D&C 101:5). It breaks hearts and bodies, and, at times, souls. But its ravages can also change us fundamentally, help us see the eternal, and feel for all sufferings and sufferers. The good and wise preempts much of it by their right living, but it does not pass them over. It can make gold pure because it is fire.
Like death is resurrection’s collaborator, joy, not by irony, but by the law of opposition, is in part suffering. In our beautiful, cheerful, joyful Savior is forever also a poor wayfaring man of grief whose suffering we remember each week. Perhaps that’s why in their extremities, our pioneers became acquainted with God. Brokenness is part of wholeness; wholeness includes brokenness. Our perfect Savior weeps (John 11:35, Jacob 5:41, Moses 7:37) and still bears the wounds of the atonement (Zechariah 13:6).
When the sufferings Christ bore for us got so sore, so exquisite, so unbearable (D&C 19:15), He prayed more earnestly the Father to let the bitter cup pass from Him. And when the cup wasn’t taken away, He partook (D&C 19:19).
Sufferings are usually something that someone or some circumstances inflict on us. Christ’s taking and drinking the bitter cup was, however, He acting on suffering. As we follow our Exemplar in all things, this may be the aspiring way for us to face our share of suffering that cannot be taken away—even to submissively partake them and bear all things (13th Article of Faith).
The Lord, knowing our burden, does give us birds and flowers and sunshine. And a Comforter who can speak peace that passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7). His injunction is for us to mourn with and minister to each other. He provided us Job, who after all he went through said in the last chapter of the sufferer: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee.” (Job 42:5)—so we know sometimes we have to go through the deep to know the infinite.
Still, to those bearing sore and long suffering, we keenly feel the feebleness of words to console. But the words of He who suffered to the point of bleeding at every pore must be listened to. For amidst His and others’ distresses, three times in His mortal ministry He offered a reason to be of good cheer:
To one sick, He said, “be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Matthew 9:2) To disciples troubled and fearful, He said, “Be of good cheer: it is I.” (Mark 6:50) To dear ones whom He knew would soon undergo fiery tribulations, He said, “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
Indeed, what are the glad tidings of great joy (Mosiah 3:3) that will cause us to remember our pain no more (Alma 36:19)? Are they not the rejoicing in the cleansing of our sins, the person of our Lord and Savior, and the ultimate and eternal victory of Christ against the world and its darknesses?
The cross before the crown. The crown because of the cross. Tears of sufferings may become tears of joy!
Akron Ohio Stake News 