Tears and a Tribute

 I read this quote in a Hebrews commentary yesterday, and if I have learned anything in suffering, it is this: 

“How wonderful that when we are blinded by tears, we can nevertheless see our God. In fact, our tears become crystal lenses through which He is magnified; and in the midst of suffering we realize the greatness of His power and the tenderness of His love.”

-Donald Grey Barnhouse

My youngest son died in a car crash in his early twenties; my middle son was put in a coma for 4 days when struck by a car. My wife almost lost her life in the hospital and, at another time, came close to needing an amputation; also, I have been a step or two away from being homeless. Yup, my 68 years on this planet were sometimes not easy. A fella learns a bit about suffering. It does one of two things: make you bitter, or you let God’s love and care heal you. That means you shift your perspective and do as scripture says: “Guard your heart. “

Acknowledge the Challenge, but Shift Your Perspective

Suffering is undeniably difficult, and Scripture does not shy away from this reality. The Bible is filled with accounts of faithful men and women enduring trials, from Job’s loss to Paul’s imprisonments. Even Jesus, in His humanity, experienced profound anguish, as noted in Hebrews 5:7:

📖 "In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence."

This passage confirms that Jesus did not ignore His suffering but fully acknowledged it before the Father. His prayers in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39) further emphasize His willingness to surrender: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

However, does this mean that shifting our perspective negates the difficulty of suffering? The biblical response is not to deny hardship but to view it through the lens of faith. Romans 8:28 reminds us that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose." Suffering is not meaningless—it is used by God for His purposes, refining us and conforming us to Christ's image (Romans 8:29).

Furthermore, James 1:2-4 provides a framework for shifting perspective:

📖 "Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

This is not a call to suppress emotions but an invitation to trust God's sanctifying work in the midst of hardship. Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 4:17, stating:

📖 "For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."

Thus, while acknowledging suffering is biblical, the Christian response is ultimately one of trust and surrender, following Christ’s example. Instead of allowing pain to define us, we place our hope in God’s sovereign plan.

💬 How can we actively surrender to God in our suffering while still acknowledging its difficulty?