How Can This Be?

Triumph. Is triumph possible in the midst of suffering?

It has been a roller coaster of a week. Last Saturday I officiated a funeral for a woman who lost her battle with cancer. Claudia was one of “my list of 10”. Our church had committed to praying for 10 households in the month of December. Ten families for 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, Claudia’s husband called to tell me she had gone home to the Lord.

It was a bittersweet moment. She was out of pain and she was in God’s presence; her suffering was over. Yet, her family was just beginning the journey of grief, loss, and their own suffering.

At the funeral, Claudia’s 5 year old granddaughter sat in the front row with her little feet dangling over the pew. I think we all wondered if she was comprehending any of what was happening. When the pallbearers carried the casket from the sanctuary, little Emma began to weep. They were big tears with sobs coming from the depths of her soul.

We don’t need to know all the details of a situation to experience the pain of suffering. Suffering is an equal opportunist that way. As Christians, we understand the WHY of suffering better than we think. We know…in our heads…that sin entered the world when Adam and Eve fell from grace. And when we ask “why”, it’s really a cry asking ourselves and God “when”.

When will the suffering end? When will You send Your Son to end the pain for good? When will I feel joy again? When will I feel safe again? When will I know…in my heart…that all this is truly working together for good?

The Virgin Mary was visited by the Angel, Gabriel. He told her she would be the mother of the long awaited Messiah; Jesus; Emmanuel; God with us. We have made that story so beautiful. For Mary, it was a terrifying announcement of a life of suffering. She would be mocked and ridiculed. She would be talked about and shamed for her “unwanted” pregnancy. She would hear the cruel words spoken about her “crazy” rabbi son. And she would hold his limp, lifeless body in her arms before they laid him in a borrowed tomb.

We know the end of the story. We have read the Book. Jesus is victorious and Mary’s suffering ends in triumph.

The same is true for you. The promise of Christ’s victory is for all people, and it extends into our time and place. During your season of suffering, hold on to this promise. Good always wins. God always triumphs.