Elephants...
Have you ever heard the illustration of the "elephant in the sitting room"? Imagine a group of people in the sitting room trying to ignore the elephant in their midst, talking about the weather or the cricket all the time twisting or bending to talk around or under the elephant!
For many Christians suffering is the "elephant in the sitting room". They are afraid to talk about it or face it, because their picture of Christ and faith is a "fair weather Christianity."
Not so with Paul. He is not afraid to talk about suffering. He is clear in his own mind that suffering does not negate or disprove the gospel. In fact, suffering highlights the strength of the Christian message!
When we are NOT surprised by suffering or fearful that its presence implies Christ's absence, then suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. And this is not a linear process, but a circular upward spiral as hope takes us to new levels of perseverance and character.
More than that! We are not left alone in our suffering - God has poured (the Greek implies "lavished") His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us.
Christianity doesn't try to ignore or explain away suffering. Suffering does not threaten the validity of faith. In the midst of pain and loss we can know a love that is completely independent of our circumstances!
| ...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us. (Romans5:3-5) |
