For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)
In 2017, I went on my first Sisterhood Hike. The majority of the time, I spent listening to other women share their stories, and after every one, I thought, me, too. But I was convinced that if I said “me too” out loud every time I related to another woman’s pain, everyone would think I was too damaged and beyond repair. I felt alone and I was angry at God for allowing me to experience so much trauma in my life.
On our final hike, I silently asked God, "Why have you allowed me to suffer so much?” When we returned to our campsite, I was in tears. But my hike group surrounded me, offering me the space I needed to tell my story, including my fears about having so many “me, too” moments. I soon realized I wasn’t alone in how I felt, which helped me begin to see the glory of God’s light shining in the darkness.
After that hike, I set out to very consciously find healing and to understand why God allows suffering. I began to talk with a counselor about the trauma of my past. Although hope seemed distant and the experience was often painful, God helped reshape my perspective.
“I started to identify what I had gained from
each trial rather than what I had lost.”
As Christians, we are not promised a life free from trials (John 16:33). Even Jesus pleaded with God to provide another way to salvation that didn’t require his death on a cross. Each time he cried out to God, “Your will be done,” Jesus learned obedience through his suffering. We can, too.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:6–11, For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
In my brokenness, I found a deeper reliance on faith and prayer, discovering a strength that was not my own. My body and my strength are like a jar of clay, fragile and easily broken, but God’s strength and power resides in me through his gift of the Holy Spirit, granted through the death and resurrection of Jesus. His power gives me the strength to endure trials without losing hope.
It is through the intersection of suffering and hope, through the dark valleys and the joyful peaks of our lives, that we can begin to grasp the profound truth that we are being transformed into reflections of God's glory.
Reflect
In what ways have you seen God take your pain to promise?
If you are experiencing trauma, consider inviting others in to help you heal. The Counseling Center at Seacoast is available to come alongside you to help you better understand your pain and find the freedom God offers.