Biblical Suffering

At first glance, the Bible facts don't support a central role for suffering. After the sin of Adam, suffering was promised as a consequence of sin.

 It is in the Gospels that we learn that Jesus was aware of the suffering that he must endure in the Passion.  The complete success of the Redemption hinged on His acceptance of suffering, and, by it, we learn that our own Salvation hinges on our acceptance of our suffering.

The Wounds of Our Lord can be viewed as evidence for his intense suffering and his gift to us.  They serve also as evidence for His ongoing love for us.  But beyond that, the suffering that he permits in our lives, are also his gift to us, and our acceptance of them, in union with him become our gift to him.  Our recognition of this can change sufferings into joy. 

  Much of life seems insignificant, but our sufferings, which can not be ignored, must be addressed, as accepted or rejected.