“Suffering doesn’t need explanation.
The experience of it calls for healing not reason because
suffering splits you in two,
creates a breach between you and
your own existence.
The rigid stance you take against your personal pain
straining to erase your event,
and not to include it in your present,
makes you your own murderer.
For your suffering has a life of its own, full of unborn ideas,
pulsing with mystery,
rich with potential to solve your future suffering,
and—most amazing—your past as well.
Your suffering holds the secrets to your appointed lot and is
therefore the hiding place of your power.
You must value your suffering enough to
coax its treasure into your using.”
-Martha Kilpatrick
All and Only, pg. 28-29
This could seem like such a negative subject for Palm Sunday, and yet…Jesus was sad about Jerusalem even amid the cries of “Hosanna!” As we process the hard things life brings us or others, we can know that Jesus understands the pain of a groaning world and offers healing and hope through the finished work of the cross.
How does processing your pain in the present bring healing to your past and hope for your future? Have you felt suffering take on “a life of its own” in your experience? What does it mean to value suffering enough to use the hidden treasure?
Before you go to bed tonight, please remember to pray for our suffering brothers and sisters in the Middle East. Pray for the families who have lost loved ones this week. Pray about your own pain, and seek to find Jesus there.
arabah rejoice 
“You must value your suffering enough to coax it’s treasure into your using”. This reminds me of the story of a visiting evangelist who went to see a brand new widow in the community who had requested a visit from him. He went, expecting to hear a long lament about her plight and her need of grace for coping with her loss. (which would certainly be normal and expected) Instead, her request was this; she said, “Pray for me, that I will be a good steward of my pain”. Wow. If we can get anywhere near that mindset, we are well on the way to getting on board with God’s program.
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And it’s just so hard to do that. I still want to run as fast as I can from any kind of pain. Thank you for sharing that story, Merle!
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Wow! Thanks for sharing. I look forward to learning more about that. Next week there’s a Pain to Purpose conference in our area, by the Mullet family. How to embrace a God-centered faith during adversity..
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That sounds interesting! Sometimes I’m sorry we live in Kansas, so far away from conferences and that sort of thing. 🙂 Be blessed and don’t hesitate to share with us what you learn!
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