“Much of our sufferings become bearable once we discover a deeper meaning beyond the pain.”
A mother about to give birth experiences much suffering, yet she is able to hold on and bears it because she knows she is going to give birth to her beloved child.
A soldier experiences hunger, loneliness and much discomfort. He may even be captured and beaten by enemies, but he endures all because he knows that he is defending innocent lives and upholding the freedom of his countrymen.
A saint experiences a painful sickness yet offers everything for the repentance of sinners and for the salvation of souls. She suffers bodily aches, sleepless nights and even emotional distress, but she knows that God accepts the value of it all for a far greater good.
Many times, it is not in our hands to avoid suffering. We get sick, we get hurt by others, we suffer emotional and mental pain. Much of these suffering could be so extreme as to be almost unbearable. But once we discover the value behind it, how it could save another life or inspire another soul, or how it could be united with the suffering of Jesus to alleviate the distress of many, we begin to gain the strength to endure it. We start to have hope. Hope doesn’t lessen the pain. But it gives us the grace to carry on.
Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. – Romans 5:3-5, WEB
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"