When Suffering Becomes Worship by Donna Bucher
Remember those children's coloring books which included "Connect the Dots" pictures? They were among my favorites; like hide and seek with a pencil. Seeking the final picture remained a mystery unless you correctly connected the dots. Like those books, God's plan for our lives rarely, if ever moves in a straight line, yet reveals a beautiful picture previously unseen.
Often viewing suffering as a "detour", we head in a particular direction, until we hit suffering. At which time, we quickly conclude we made a wrong turn. But what if suffering instead confirmed we were headed in the right direction?
Why Do We Fear Suffering?
We fear suffering because it brings pain and highlights our brokenness. But suffering also reveals deeper deficiencies.
- Suffering disrupts our comfort zone
- Suffering can bring financial and material loss.
- Suffering disrupts our feeling of control
- Suffering derails our plans, intentions, and dreams.
- Suffering reveals entitlement attitudes.
Realizing core reasons for fears related to suffering helps us move past those fears. Facing each scenario above at one time or another in my life, initially stifled my relationship with Christ. Fear driven anxiety pushed me away from God into foolishly thinking I controlled my suffering.
A New Perspective on Suffering
Revisiting the story of Lazarus’ death as told in John 11:1-43 changed my perspective on suffering. Earlier in Jesus’ ministry we meet the famous sisters of Lazarus; Mary and Martha. At that time, in Luke 10:38-42 we see Mary choosing the “better part” of worshipfully sitting with Jesus.
But when we visit Bethany again after Lazarus' death, we once again see two responses to one singular event, only this time the roles are reversed!
Sending word to Jesus of Lazarus’ illness, the sisters requested his immediate presence and healing, yet he tarried and Lazarus died.
Finally, Jesus arrives. When Martha heard Jesus coming, she went out and met Him. The narrative tells us she once again had a house full of people. Surely busy serving others, but this time she left her serving to go to Him.
Even more amazing is the conversation following. Once more sharing her thoughts with Jesus, but this time with a changed perspective. The first time in Luke 10:40, she not only told Him her thoughts, but what He should do about the situation!
This time she shares her thoughts, but then humbly bows to His will. We see the components of worship; meekness and humility. Meekness, which is the correct view of God, and humility, the correct view of ourselves.
Role Reversal
We also see a different Mary, this time she did not go to Jesus, though Martha encouraged her to go. Mary finally went, but in her response to Jesus, we see hopelessness and despair (John 11:32).
Overcome with grief, her response focused on the temporal; while Martha “believed” and acknowledged God’s sovereignty (John 11:21-27).
Mary previously took a risk and sought intimacy with Christ in Luke 10. Yet in John 11, suffering comes to this family, but not without purpose. So often we think intimacy with Christ means exemption from suffering. Somehow believing the confirmation of his love for us results in his protection from suffering.
Jesus loved this family, Bethany was a favorite stop for him. We see in John 11:35, Jesus weeping at Lazarus' tomb. Yet in his great love, he allowed suffering to come to this family.
We Do Not Suffer Alone
We often view Mary as worshipful, sitting at the feet of Christ. But at the death of her brother, instead of worship, Mary questioned Jesus. Martha, often viewed as the "server", becomes worshipper in the midst of her suffering. While she too, mentions her faith in Jesus to heal her brother, she acknowledges his sovereignty and bows to his will.
All suffering for the Christian is with Christ; we see Jesus weep with Mary, Martha and the others affected by Lazarus' death. All suffering for the Christian is also for Christ; He declares in John 11:30, all happened for God's glory. God has a purpose for suffering and works it for good in our lives.
But in the midst of suffering, satan tempts our faith in the goodness of God. How often we speak like Mary and Martha; "if Jesus had been here, things would be different". Tempting us to leave the place of intimacy with Christ and handle things ourselves; satan lures us into missing the fellowship of Christ in suffering. Ultimately making us vulnerable to bitterness.
Suffering's Rich Reward
- Conforms us to the image of Christ
- Strengthens and confirms our faith
- Produces humility and meekness
- Produces joy
- Glorifies God
- Breaks our self-reliance (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)
- Reveals Christ more intimately to us
When Suffering Becomes Worship
Viewing suffering as worship means we understand worship involves sacrifice. True worship includes a correct view of God and his character, displayed in meekness. Meekness develops through suffering; trusting God's goodness despite hardship.
Martha demonstrated meekness as she showed her grief to Jesus, but acknowledged HE was God. True worship also includes a correct view of ourselves, displayed in humility. Humility develops through suffering, as we accept God's sovereignty in hardship. Martha displayed humility in affirming her belief in Jesus as the Messiah, forsaking her desired outcome.
We also see Mary return to beautiful worship in John 12:3, as she (unknowingly) anoints Jesus for his impending burial. Her worship not only involved the sacrifice of the costly perfume; it involved the sacrifice of her reputation. Beautiful, powerful, worship comes at supreme cost to the one who offers it.
When Worship Transforms Suffering
We think of material possessions; good health, jobs, a home, food, relationships, and many "good" things as blessings from God. Gladly, we offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to him for these good things. God intends we receive these things with gratitude and open hands, giving back to him as we bless others for his Kingdom.
But suffering feels like the opposite; a stripping. Grief, sorrow, or loss empties our hands and breaks our heart. But when we receive that suffering, we find there in our hands, something to offer back to God: worship.
And in this broken giving back, God, in a mysterious exchange, gives himself to us. As we acknowledge God's sovereignty in our suffering with gratitude, we reap the rich rewards of suffering. Transforming our suffering into a beautiful sacrifice of worship. When suffering becomes worship, it releases God's glory and the infinite worth of Christ through our brokenness to others.