Redemptive Suffering

[isabella1]

Love this Scripture:
"More than that , we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us"

Amen to that sister. But I have to admit, I have found it difficult to rejoice in my suffering. I just havent found a way to master that yet. I am grateful for it afterwards, and see the beauty in it, and how God uses it at times.

But still, cant find a way to rejoice when I am in the middle of suffering, I do offer it up, and at times that is even hard. I do-no???

 

[isabella1]

That's a great way to understand it-- the illness, pain, suffering, struggles are all temptations that come from the enemy even when he does not directly give us the pain, he surly uses it to get us to despair and give up.

Christ took every kind of evil and pain there is and transformed it into a grace, that when we endure with love and fortitude the way He did, we can change the world.

Yep, Satan sure knows how to use things doesn't he? He cant read our minds, or hear our silent prayers though. But the moment we say something out loud, or act on something. Wham! He hits us where we are the weakest.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

"I cannot understand a God who is pleased by my baby's hurting!"

The priest winced. "No, no! It's not the pain that ispleasing to God, child. It's the soul's endurance in faith and hope and love in spite of bodily afflictions which pleases Heaven. Pain is like negative temptation. God is not pleased by temptations that afflict the flesh; He is pleased when the soul rises above the temptation and says 'Go, Satan.' It's the same with pain, which is often a temptation to despair, anger, loss of faith-"

wow so true!!

 

[Tigg]

I must thank everyone for their posts. As I said, I don't really get the concept. To me, I see no value. Maybe because heaven is described as having no pain. And that is wonderful to me and I look forward to that for me and others.

"and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Rev. 21:4

I am also a person who still can't get over Good Friday being called Good. Miserable day. Christ's crucifixion is horrible to me. Yes, I know, He redeemed the world, died for my sins etc. But His torture and death I get no pleasure from for any reason. Just me I know. I sometimes think Jesus should have said nuts on them. We are a miserable species all things considered

Enough of my ramblings! Thanks to all of you agin. Now back to reading any more posts!

-Peace-

 

[isabella1]

I must thank everyone for their posts. As I said, I don't really get the concept. To me, I see no value. Maybe because heaven is described as having no pain. And that is wonderful to me and I look forward to that for me and others.

"and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Rev. 21:4

I am also a person who still can't get over Good Friday being called Good. Miserable day. Christ's crucifixion is horrible to me. Yes, I know, He redeemed the world, died for my sins etc. But His torture and death I get no pleasure from for any reason. Just me I know. I sometimes think Jesus should have said nuts on them. We are a miserable species all things considered

Enough of my ramblings! Thanks to all of you agin. Now back to reading any more posts!

-Peace-

I see your point.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I see your point too, Tigg..

lol sometimes when I suffer, instead of offering it up, I just start thinking of heaven! and it's like..can't wait for that...lol.. but the truth is that of course we have to get through this life first.

For me it helps to remember that Christ went through this life too... that helps me unite my suffering to His on the Cross.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Amen to that sister. But I have to admit, I have found it difficult to rejoice in my suffering. I just havent found a way to master that yet. I am grateful for it afterwards, and see the beauty in it, and how God uses it at times.

But still, cant find a way to rejoice when I am in the middle of suffering, I do offer it up, and at times that is even hard. I do-no???

Well even Jesus asks if He might avoid suffering and is in agony in the Gesthamane So I think you are in good company

 

[benedictaoo]

I must thank everyone for their posts. As I said, I don't really get the concept. To me, I see no value. Maybe because heaven is described as having no pain. And that is wonderful to me and I look forward to that for me and others.

"and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Rev. 21:4

I am also a person who still can't get over Good Friday being called Good. Miserable day. Christ's crucifixion is horrible to me. Yes, I know, He redeemed the world, died for my sins etc. But His torture and death I get no pleasure from for any reason. Just me I know. I sometimes think Jesus should have said nuts on them. We are a miserable species all things considered

Enough of my ramblings! Thanks to all of you agin. Now back to reading any more posts!

-Peace-

It's good becuase he turned that evil into a grace that saved mankind.

He changed the face of the earth and renewed it by accepting all the evil with great love... good conquers evil.

It's hard to grasp but when evil and suffering befall us, we can turn it around too and have it be a grace instead of a curse.

You just have to be willing to accept it as a grace and with love for Christ and other ppl and be willing to suffer the pain becuase the pain will bring new life.

if you complain, get angry, get depressed,.. the enemy has won. You become mean, bitter, ugly and you lose faith.

But if you take your pain and say, this sucks... take it from me but if it be your will that I suffer this, then, Jesus and Mary, I love you, save souls.

The enemy is then crushed.

Let it be done to be according to your word... Let this cup pass me but as you will it, not as I will it.

 

[isabella1]

It's good becuase he turned that evil into a grace that saved mankind.

He changed the face of the earth and renewed it by accepting all the evil with great love... good conquers evil.

It's hard to grasp but when evil and suffering befall us, we can turn it around too and have it be a grace instead of a curse.

You just have to be willing to accept it as a grace and with love for Christ and other ppl and be willing to suffer the pain becuase the pain will bring new life.

if you complain, get angry, get depressed,.. the enemy has won. You become mean, bitter, ugly and you lose faith.

But if you take your pain and say, this sucks... take it from me but if it be your will that I suffer this, then, Jesus and Mary, I love you, save souls.

The enemy is then crushed.

Let it be done to be according to your word... Let this cup pass me but as you will it, not as I will it.

What I do many times is tell the Lord how angry I am with him and the situation, I cry, stomp my feet, scream (sometimes at the top of my lungs in an open fields) LOL. Then when my little temper tantrum is done, I invite the Lord into my pain and suffering, and tell him "here this is yours, do with it what you will", I sometimes even throw it to him.

Sometimes I don't even see satan entering in to make me fall, until weeks even a month later. I think I get blindsided.

I do, however try real hard to focus on handing it over to Christ each time and inviting him into every situation

 

[benedictaoo]

When ppl say 'joy,' it's not that they are enjoying pain and hurt.

The joy is letting Christ in and having confidence that it's not wasted. That Christ took it and turned this evil into a good.

 

[Tigg]

benedictaoo, I do know all that you say. The fact being that if I could say what Jesus and you said, " Let it be done to be according to your word... Let this cup pass me but as you will it, not as I will it.", I truly would be a saint or a mirror of Christ. I am so far from that.

If suffering saves anyone or not, I don't know. But I wish no pain on anyone and pray that their pain is lessoned. I pray for those dying that they die in the least painful way and quickly. We all must suffer as that is life.

Then there is the scripture to give thanks in everything. Sigh.

-Peace-

 

[Tigg]

What I do many times is tell the Lord how angry I am with him and the situation, I cry, stomp my feet, scream (sometimes at the top of my lungs in an open fields) LOL. Then when my little temper tantrum is done, I invite the Lord into my pain and suffering, and tell him "here this is yours, do with it what you will", I sometimes even throw it to him.

Sometimes I don't even see satan entering in to make me fall, until weeks even a month later. I think I get blindsided.

I do, however try real hard to focus on handing it over to Christ each time and inviting him into every situation

Are we related? Prayer is talk. What you mention you do, so do I. I talk to Him. In sadness, joy, anger, whatever. He is God and friend. Of course when I argue with Him He always wins. Surprise!! Tis good!

Pope Benedict's Mass is starting and I am going to watch on TV.

-Peace-

 

[benedictaoo]

benedictaoo, I do know all that you say. The fact being that if I could say what Jesus and you said, " Let it be done to be according to your word... Let this cup pass me but as you will it, not as I will it.", I truly would be a saint or a mirror of Christ. I am so far from that.

If suffering saves anyone or not, I don't know. But I wish no pain on anyone and pray that their pain is lessoned. I pray for those dying that they die in the least painful way and quickly. We all must suffer as that is life.

Then there is the scripture to give thanks in everything. Sigh.

-Peace-

It does save souls, make no mistake about that. That is where our joy in baring the cross comes from, our confidence in knowing it saves souls.

We don't wish pain on us or on other ppl as a means for them to come to be saved. Some saints did pray for it for themselves that but they are extraordinary.

It's fine for us to pray for the grace to get us through our state in life. I have to pray for my husband to be healthy and pain free becuase he has to work to support us all... so yes, we are to pray for ppl to be healthy wealthy and wise.

But at the end of it all, we say, according to your will, not mine. If someone is carrying a cross, we are to suffer it with them for the good of souls. Part of the cross we bare with them is praying, wishing they would find relief.

 

[HisKid1973]

It's just that statements like this just don't settle right with me...Look how many suffer heartache just from making bad choices in their lives. Reaping what they've sowed..It's not like the sufferings comes from being out spreading the gospel message...It would be nice to have this thread somewhere where Orthodox and non Catholics could put their ideas/teachings in...K

 

[Tigg]

It's just that statements like this just don't settle right with me...
It would be nice to have this thread somewhere where Orthodox and non Catholics could put their ideas/teachings in...K

Thanks for sharing (post #12). 4 u!

I will admit that if I could take some of the suffering I see around me, I would. But God doesn't make deals with me. If you do this, I do that, kind of thing. Which I think shows that He is smart. Except there are times... If you find a spot to give your views, I don't know why not here, but don't take my word on about voicing them here, let me know. I do like to hear all views. Should I run now? Perhaps...

-Peace-

 

[HisKid1973]

Hey my Sister Tigg, beloved of the Lord...Thanks for your kind comments...I'd say alot of my suffering came from it being cold and being in a hurry under poor lighting and missing a step coming off a railcar...Plus a stressful job..Probably the worse "persecution" if you could call it that was during the" I found it " era wearing that button on my jump suit and being asks to leave the elevator when I started talking about finding new life in Christ..Peace to you..Kim

 

[benedictaoo]

It's just that statements like this just don't settle right with me...Look how many suffer heartache just from making bad choices in their lives. Reaping what they've sowed..It's not like the sufferings comes from being out spreading the gospel message...It would be nice to have this thread somewhere where Orthodox and non Catholics could put their ideas/teachings in...K

No... it wouldn't be nice becuase i really am not into arguing over what I KNOW is the truth.

if you want to believe we can't suffer with Christ for the salvation of souls, knock your self out.

But what I don't want you to do is come in here planting doubt among catholics, thinking we need to told differently, that our beliefs are false. No they are not, they are true.

If you stick around long enough and have a open heart- the teacher will become the student and you just may learn something about the Christian faith you never knew.

 

[Tigg]

Hey my Sister Tigg, beloved of the Lord...Thanks for your kind comments...I'd say alot of my suffering came from it being cold and being in a hurry under poor lighting and missing a step coming off a railcar...Plus a stressful job..Probably the worse "persecution" if you could call it that was during the" I found it " era wearing that button on my jump suit and being asks to leave the elevator when I started talking about finding new life in Christ..Peace to you..Kim

Wow. Makes me wince thinking about your accident.

Your "I found it" button huh. You are one brave man. Just a thought but I would be leery to ask any man with that button on, what he found. Horrors - my imagination you know.

God bless and keep you.

-Peace-

 

[HisKid1973]

No... it wouldn't be nice becuase i really am not into arguing over what I KNOW is the truth.

if you want to believe we can't suffer with Christ for the salvation of souls, knock your self out.

But what I don't want you to do is come in here planting doubt among catholics, thinking we need to told differently, that our beliefs are false. No they are not, they are true.

If you stick around long enough and have a open heart- the teacher will become the student and you just may learn something about the Christian faith you never knew.

I'm just trying to see how you arrive at your conclusion..I'll just make a post in GT and see if we can discuss it openly among the brethren and see what scriptures and thoughts come up..Then I won't disturb the thread any more..How's that..