Why?

Last Sunday in our class, we discussed why suffering and pain are part of our existence.

Through the pain, through the suffering, through the trials, through the bad stuff, Romans 8:37-39 tells us we "are more than conquerors."

"More than conquerors." What is a conqueror? It's one who achieves complete victory and domination over one's opposition. Complete victory. Total domination.

In Christ, we are more than victors. More than dominators over the things that cause us to suffer.

How can that be?

Could it be that "overcoming" pain and suffering in a physical sense isn't the point?

When we think of complete victory over physical pain and suffering, we naturally think about physical healing. But Scripture tells us that in Christ, we are more than victors over physical pain. Sickness, suffering, pain...they can't really touch who we really are in Christ.

When we look at suffering from an eternal viewpoint (and that is really hard to do in the midst of it), we find hope. Suffering and pain are temporary. Someday, Jesus will wipe all the pain away. Jesus will wipe out all the suffering. No more tears.

We have an eternal hope...even in the midst of ugly suffering. Let's help each other remember that eternal hope. Let's not try to rationalize suffering or defend God in the presence of pain. Let's instead remind each other of who we really are in Christ Jesus.....More Than Conquerors.

In class, I mentioned I thought that in Heaven we'd all potentially find the answer to the question, "why suffering?" Dawn H. stopped me afterward and correctly observed that, when we get to Heaven, we won't care about "why?" anymore in the awesome presence of our Heavenly Father.

That, my friends, is hope.