Everyone is going to suffer, but will we suffer well? Will we suffer in a way that will do good to our own souls, bless those around us, and glorify God?
In this post, I’d like to meditate on 5 ways we can suffer well and then contrast that with 5 ways in which we can suffer badly. In later posts, I will address why we should suffer well and how we can suffer well, but for now, I just want to try to shed some light on what it means to suffer well.
Before I begin, I want to let you know that I sat down with two friends, Art Stump and Lacie Shingleton to discuss suffering well on our Pinecone Podcast. I would invite you to listen to our discussion by clicking here.
5 Ways to Suffer Well
- You acknowledge that you are suffering
- You continue to honor those around you.
- You continue to do the good that you should do.
- You continue to trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God.
- You continue to hope and expect that God will give you good things.
5 Ways to Suffer Badly
- You suppress or ignore the fact that you are suffering.
- You lash out at those around you, even those who may have nothing to do with your suffering.
- You get bitter.
- You give up on God.
- You fall into despair.
Again, this is just the concept. In later posts, I will address why we should seek to suffer well and how we can do it. For now, I think it’s important to have a clear sense of what it means to suffer well and suffer badly. These are the things that came most clearly to my mind. What about you? Anything you would add or take away?