Hope in Suffering

Romans has so much to offer so when I opened my bible this morning to study, I flipped to that chapter. As I was reading, I came to chapter 11:33-

“Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and his ways past finding out.” (NKJV)

Many times we forget that Jesus walked among us, he was a real person who experienced joy and life. He also experienced suffering beyond what any of us could imagine. When things don’t go as planned in our lives, we often adapt the ‘poor, pitiful me’ outlook. We become a version of our teenage selves- you know, the time period when the world revolved around us. No one could possibly know how we’re feeling or what to do about the predicament. We feel alone yet we feel all eyes are on us just waiting to see what we’ll do with this obstacle. I know I’m not the only one who has ever felt this way.

Jesus experienced the ultimate suffering imaginable. Why not turn to him in times of trouble? The words that stuck out in my mind in the above verse were “depth” and “unsearchable“. I think we too often forget how beautifully complicated God can be. He knows us so fully. As Billy Graham said, He’s capable of seeing the past and future just as clearly as the present. We do not always know His master plan for our lives because it can be beyond our understanding. It can be so intricate and deep that we may not see where we’re being led. We may be so confused that His will seems unsearchable, but He leads us still. He reveals to us what we need.

12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Have you ever thought that if you could just change your mind about something then your whole life could change? This is one of those instances. Trusting in God through your sufferings, acknowledging how His suffering can relate to and change you, and simply deciding every day to hand over your problems to God–THAT will change your life.

Paul says to be wed to what is good. If you wake up every single day and, in a sense, marry your Savior- decide to rededicate yourself fully to Him, He can comfort you and keep you strong in every shortcoming, every struggle, every suffering that comes your way.

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