Suffering: the Pathway to Growth and Joy

Written by Bill Sbordon on Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

Emmanuel means, “God with us”. We need to remember in our times of trial that God sent us Jesus as a new light for love and hope, and that he is always with us as we prepare for his birth this Advent.

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“…affliction produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” – Romans, 5:3-5

When I was young, I’d often go to the lake with my family in the summer. My favorite toy to bring to the beach was a boogie-board. While out in the water, one of the games my sister and I created was to see who could stand on the board the longest when it was underwater. No matter how long we tried to stay on, the force that pushed up on the boogie-board would always drive it up to the surface, and leave it floating on the water.

It’s difficult to staying floating when everything around you tries to keep you submerged. Every person goes through a period of suffering in his/her life. You may feel lonely; you may feel like your trial will never end. It will – it always does. In our vulnerability during this time, our relationship with God will grow so much deeper than it already is. We’ll gain endurance, character, and most importantly, hope. God fills us with his love in our hope. He’s always there for you. He wants you to become the person you can be.

In the end, suffering is a pathway to growth and joy. Our suffering produces a greater love with God. He’s the force that pushes you out of your hard times and into a new, joyous person. Like the boogie-board, you won’t stay submerged forever. You’ll fly out of the depths and into a new light.

Questions for Reflection:  
How do I stay afloat in troubled times? How has God helped me in my suffering?

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Bill Sbordon
Bill is a young professional and part of the Grad Student/Young Professionals group at St. Mary’s. He graduated from the University of Michigan as an industrial engineer in 2012 and has been a part of St. Mary Student Parish since 2014.
Email: [email protected]