Patterns of Transformation through Suffering

Three unbiblical stories for approaching suffering:

3) I can handle anything that comes my way.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

1) Intersectionality.

The concept of intersectionality describes the ways in which systems of inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, class and other forms of discrimination “intersect” to create unique dynamics and effects. For example, when a Muslim woman wearing the Hijab is being discriminated, it would be impossible to dissociate her female* from her Muslim identity and to isolate the dimension(s) causing her discrimination.

All forms of inequality are mutually reinforcing and must therefore be analysed and addressed simultaneously to prevent one form of inequality from reinforcing another. For example, tackling the gender pay gap alone – without including other dimensions such as race, socio-economic status and immigration status – will likely reinforce inequalities among women.

If this seems radical, it is because we have been so beaten about the head with the assertion that identity fundamentally consists of ascriptive characteristics, especially ones that have become politically salient in recent decades. We would do well to revisit Michael Oakeshott’s insights about human identity and the moral life from the first essay in On Human Conduct. There he observes that the beginning of human action “is a state of reflective consciousness, namely, the agent’s own understanding of his situation, what it means to him.” Our capacity for self-knowledge and self-interpretation is crucial, and it’s an element of our freedom. A genetic inheritance, or even a personal history composed of particular episodes, never determines who we are. All such inputs are subject to human understanding.

Elizabeth Corey, First Things blog

It has often been observed that intersectionality creates a kind of “oppression Olympics” among those who hold the theory. Ironically, within college campus subculture, one’s moral authority can be enhanced by intersecting identities of oppression. This kind of a social dynamic incentivizes grievance based on identity. In that way, it entrenches social divisions rather than healing them. - Denny Burk

Suffering is multiplied by various categories of identities that are oppressed. One can alleviate suffering through “using your voice” and “fighting for the rights of yourself and others.” It assumes that identities are fixed based on things that can’t change. It actually creates more division and therefore more suffering because you must depend on yourself.

2) God won’t give you more than you can handle.

Suffering is minimized because it can’t be “more.” Suffering should be alleviated through simply believing you’re ok. It assumes you have identity that is fixed. It actually sets you up to depend on yourself because you should be able to “handle it” and isolates us when we feel we can’t.

Biblically, suffering is not solely something done to us nor what we do to ourselves nor is it simply random nor does it give one moral superiority as if one can determine who has suffered more. Suffering is sovereignly used by God to cause us to relate to Him and seek Him out.

The combination of divine sovereignty and human responsibility

Pattern 1. Someone else’s response to similar suffering surprises us to repentance

Genesis 38:1–5 ESV

1 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, 3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.

Judah’s cynical about his family, the family’s covenant with God and its blessing.

Judah’s sons are wicked. They don’t care about their family just like Judah didn’t. But Judah wanted grandchildren.

Genesis 38:24–26 ESV

24 About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.” And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” 26 Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.

Tamar couldn’t have children, yet tricked her father-in-law into having them. She at least stayed loyal to her family when Judah hadn’t.

Judah’s surprise admission starts his transformation.

Genesis 38:27–30 ESV

27 When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. 28 And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

Judah’s grandson’s birth would have reminded him of the covenant promises and God’s grace.

Examples - me at baptism...

It was around ten o'clock in the morning that I went up to Kathryn's to call for her to come out and play.  There was no one on the porch or in the kitchen.  The breakfast dishes had all been washed.  They were long railroad apartments, those flats, and thinking the children must be in the front room, I burst in and ran through the bedrooms.

"In the front room, Mrs. Barrett was on her knees, saying her prayers.  She turned to tell me that Kathryn and the children had all gone to the store and went on with her praying.  And I felt a warm burst of love toward Mrs. Barrett that I have never forgotten, a feeling of gratitude and happiness that still warms my heart when I remember her.  She had God, and there was

"All through my life what she was doing remained with me.  And though I became oppressed with the problem of poverty and injustice, though I groaned at the hideous sordidness of man's lot, though there were years when I clung to the philosophy of economic determination as an explanation of man's fate, still there were moments when in the midst of misery and class strife, life was shot through with glory.  Mrs. Barrett in her sordid little tenement flat finished her breakfast dishes at ten o'clock in the morning and got down on her knees and prayed to God" - Dorothy Day

Out of the light that dazzles me, Bright as the sun from pole to pole, I thank the God I know to be, For Christ – the Conqueror of my soul.

Since His the sway of circumstance, I would not wince nor cry aloud. Under the rule which men call chance, My head, with joy, is humbly bowed.

Beyond this place of sin and tears, That Life with Him and His the Aid, That, spite the menace of the years, Keeps, and will keep me unafraid.

I have no fear though straight the gate: He cleared from punishment the scroll. Christ is the Master of my fate! Christ is the Captain of my soul!

Dorothy Day

Pattern 2. Suffering when doing what’s right completes our ability to help others.

Genesis 39:1–6 ESV

1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

His handsomeness caused problems.

Genesis 39:7–10 ESV

7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.

Not his consistent refusal even when suffering

Genesis 39:11–23 ESV

11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. 13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” 19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

He goes from slave to prison slave

Did he really suffer? Maybe just stoically taking it and seeking to obey God without emotion is the ideal?

Genesis 41:50–52 ESV

50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Why is suffering when doing right so important? Why is it actually a pattern?

Hebrews 2:10 ESV

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:18 ESV

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 5:8–9 ESV

8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 2:10–11 ESV

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Where God’s story and your story intersect. Your story matters because your suffering matters.

3. Trust God’s steadfast love in the midst of suffering

Patterns between the 2 stories

Both end up separated from their families but for different reasons

Both lose an article of clothing during sexual temptation

Both have children that remind them of God’s grace

Both are used to unite their family

Sin leads you to surrender your God-given honor. Faith leads you to trust God and His steadfast love rather than man-given honor.

Flee sexual temptation.

God’s hesed never fails. It never gives up.

What if I’m not sure whether I’ve sinned or I’m doing what’s right that’s caused my suffering?

Hebrews 12:3–13 ESV

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

2 Corinthians 1:3–5 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

This is why your story matters especially seeing God’s grace in the midst of suffering. God wants your story to be told so that more people might know His steadfast love in their stories.

The Lord is my Shepherd.

That’s all I want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

Because He is with me, His rod and staff comfort me.

He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

He anoints my head with oil. My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Community Group questions:

Have you heard the phrase “God won’t give you more than you can handle?” What’s your reaction to that thought?

Is there a time when you feel God led you to repentance? What did that look like?

When have you been doing the right thing but humiliated for it? How challenging was that for you? What were you afraid of? Did you see God’s grace in the midst of it and if so, how?

As you interact with people, what “clothes” or statuses are they most often clinging to? How is your spiritual clothing in Ephesians 1 (or 6) or Colossians 3 better? Pick one don’t do all 3.

God has multiple purposes in suffering. What are some Bible verses you turn to in the midst of suffering to help you lean on Him?