Joy in suffering

3rd December, 2006

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
(James 1:2-3)

Be joyful with suffering? It seems to be a very high standard. However, as a Christian, we believe God’s mercy is enough for us and we should not fear any test in life. During suffering, we tend to focus on the pain and it is a natural reaction. However, if we concentrate too much on the pain, the negative feeling will always stay with us. The best thing to do is to divert our attention, do something we enjoy. The feeling of pain will decrease gradually. This is part of my experience. I would like to share some view points during my illness.

1. Cope with suffering
Tears always go with suffering, so that we can grow through it. For patients suffering from liver cancer, the abdomen would swell up due to liver malfunction. In addition, the ascites would raise the stomach. We feel distend when we eat and drink. Backflow of gastric juice makes us vomit all the time. Since the skin and muscle is stretching, we would suffer from back pain. I vomit when taking in food. My wife always encourages me to finish the food slowly. When I am suffering, I would meditate Jesus’s suffering. He was in Golgotha, facing the torture of the cross. My suffering is light and short comparatively.

2.Share with other patients
A few days ago, I went to the hospital for extracting ascites. It was easy to talk to other patients in the hospital. I knew a few patients in my room. They have different stories. One just had his operation of removing the tumour. He is recovering and becomes cheerful. He said he felt a big relief after the operation. Recovery is the biggest joy for sick people.

Another elderly has transplanted his liver for 4 years. Recently, he is suffering from various illnesses. The doctor is checking on him to find out the cause of illnesses. It is painful to go through all the tests, especially for gastroscope.

The third one is a secondary school student who is suffering from a rare illness. Some of the cells in his bone marrow decayed but the decayed cells attack his liver and the liver does not function anymore. He needs to go through two main operations to change his marrow and transplant liver. It is a big burden on him and he becomes depressed. They are suffering which is painful and scary for them. We talked about each other’s illness and, naturally, we talked about life. May Jesus be their strength and happiness. I blessed each of them before I left. I hope they would hold on and recover soon.

3. Secret of overcoming the suffering
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(James 1:3-4)
How can we overcome test and suffering? Paul says, there is faith, hope and love and this is very treasuring in our belief. We need to have hope in order to overcome the suffering. When we have hope and faith, we can see light out of our desperation.

I am very sick and the doctors said there is not much they can do. A few brothers and sisters told me to be ready but I never feel desperate. For me, it is excellent to meet our Father God and it is easy to arrange things after I leave. However, I am in a battle at the moment and it is not good to think what I should do if the result is negative. I hope you would pray for me according to what I receive from God, ‘God will heal me.’ We have to pray on the same goal. God can do things that man cannot. I am facing the battle according to God’s will. We are not relying on medicine and technology but the Spirit of God. An unstable heart is the biggest loophole in a battle. If we are taking it as a spiritual war, we have to fight to the last minute wholeheartedly. This is the secret of overcoming illness and suffering.

To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
(Jude 1:25)

Pastor Li