Faith, Suffering, and the Metaphor of a Healthy Body

Most people of faith will tell you that their faith brings them comfort when they are suffering. 

1. Some believe that suffering gives them more approval from God.  
2. Some believe that suffering has meaning and purpose in and of itself (logotherapy).  An old song says that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  The Bible says that suffering produces perseverance, which produces character, which produces hope (Romans 5:3).  Please never tell someone this though unless you are willing to suffer with them. Suffering only produces character when it is glued to empathy, whether that empathy comes from a loved one or from God (see verse 5 of Romans 5). If you are not able to be genuinely empathic towards those who are suffering, stay away.  You will get in the way of their journey. We have had people tell us tritely that our suffering would produce character.  They were never people who loved us through it, and while they are still a part of our lives, they are no longer a part of our suffering journey because we will not allow others to get in the way of our growth.  Be discerning about whom you let in on your journey.
3. Some believe that God has suffered and, therefore, suffering brings us to a closer path with God. 
4. Many believe that God loves them and comforts them in their suffering.  

If you are a person of faith, how does your faith bring you comfort when you or a loved one are suffering?

Here are some items from my faith that have inspired and encouraged me.

The Christian Bible uses the metaphor of believers being like a body (genuine empathy).  When an eye suffers, the whole body suffers, and when the hand rejoices, the whole body rejoices.  We are to carry each others' burdens and share one another's joys.  My dear aunt taught me that if you awaken in the middle of the night, it often means you are supposed to pray for someone.  This means that we are never alone and that we have belonging even if we can't do what we used to do.

I don't know how some heroes of the faith continue to talk about their deep peace in the midst of grief, their peace that they will see their loved one again.  All Christians believe this, but expressing it and living it out, takes it to a deeper level.  These are the people, the members of the Body who inspire us to draw closer to God.  These are also some of the people for whom we are to pray when we awaken in the middle of the night.  Even Jesus asked His friends to pray for Him in the middle of the night.

Christians believe that if someone believes that Jesus is God and died for their sins, they can ask Him to forever be their Lord and Savior, to follow Him, repent of their sins, and He will forever be with them in this life and the next.  I've seen this deep, passionate faith.  I've seen it in my peers who face the trauma of potentially losing a loved one.  This doesn't mean they don't grieve; it means they hold on to their faith that God is joining them in their suffering and that we are promised eternity with a good God and with people we love who love Him. We still grieve.  We still experience denial, bargaining, anger, and sadness.  However, in the midst of that, we know we are not alone.  

The Christian Bible also teaches that Christ is the Head of the Body.  This also means that in suffering or rejoicing, we are never alone.  He is always with us, and He understands our suffering because He suffered.  A healthy body isn't one that feels good all the time.  A healthy body is when we don't ignore suffering but acknowledge it and care for one another. A healthy body is connected/mindful of the needs other parts might have, and recognizes that every part has purpose, value, and belonging no matter what.  A healthy body embraces that we are loved and wanted. A healthy body loves and wants. (This metaphor works socially, but it also works literally.  If you stop fighting your pain, listen to what your body needs, and not see your body as the enemy but as having purpose no matter how disabled, you will be mentally healthy and no longer fighting with yourself.) My ear is not bad.  My balance mechanism that responds with vertigo is not bad.  The noise in my ear is not bad.  The pain is not bad.  They are reminders that I have value, that I belong and have purpose, and that my heroes, especially Jesus, understand and care about my suffering.

Belonging, purpose, hope.  Suffering can at times bring these beautiful things to us. If you are a person of faith, how has your faith helped you in the midst of suffering?