World we live in a cruel place to live. Suffering seemed constantly plagued our lives. Almost in all areas of life and level of complex problems. All the people around us are people who are struggling to understand the meaning of suffering in life. So how should we develop the attitude that the face of suffering in this life?
1. Accept suffering as a fact of life
Almost all over the world many people end their lives by committing suicide. And not a single human being under heaven who does not suffer. So many stories of depression, rejection, a disease that brings death, miscarriage, loss, natural disasters, wars and many other hardships.
On a larger scale, the picture looks even more bleak. Hardly a day goes by without a tragedy. Floods and earthquakes, suicide, accidents, murder, robbery, corruption, hunger, the threat of cancer. The list is unlikely to end the suffering.
But we must not sink into the abyss of despair and give up, ignore everything we know about God and forget about the nature of His mercy and goodness. If we do that, then we have lost the privilege we as followers of Christ.
A better approach is to recognize our wounds in the presence of God and chose him in the middle of it all. God welcomes the fact that there are situations and conditions. It requires diligence, persistence, where every day we decided to choose the way of God in the suffering of our struggle.
Therefore, as Christians, we must accept suffering as a fact of life. And always remember the love, loyalty, generosity, kindness and grace of God that is always available to us.
2. Wake up thankful attitude to life
The Apostle Paul writes: "give thanks in all things, because it was God in Christ Jesus for you" - 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Although it was obvious we would never celebrate the suffering for the sake of suffering, from the biblical picture and description of our own lives, we begin to realize that in times of severe suffering, God is always closer and work harder than what we know.
It gives a whole new enlightenment in our thinking about the test of life. If we want to be a follower of Jesus Christ, tested and mature in the faith, then wake up the attitude of heart that always give thanks in all circumstances and conditions of our lives.
That attitude is appropriate and deemed worthy by God to do. James insists the author thus: "My brothers, consider it all joy when ye fall into various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let's get persistence of ripe fruit, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing "- James 1:2-4.
There are important principles are maintained if we are to persevere. Often our suffering land will be fertile soil for future fruitful. The sooner we realize this principle at work in many situations, the less pain is felt. If we can see that we will reap a harvest, we will have a greater readiness to sow in tears.
