Two months ago, we talked about how much mercy we’ve received from God during our lives, on a scale of 1 to 5.  Today, let’s ponder, on a scale of 1 to 5, how much suffering have we experienced during our lives.  Note that the scale includes how we responded to it because that’s often an indication of the level of suffering we’ve endured.

1 – I don’t think much about suffering (because I haven’t experienced much of it).

2 – Enough bad things happen in my life that I’m regularly frustrated.

3 – A few times, the level of suffering has caused me to think about it.  (Note that, in level two, we’re frustrated but don’t think about it.  In level three, we start asking questions because the suffering’s so great.)

4 – My suffering has been so intense that I’ve reflected seriously on why it happens to me so often.

5 – Suffering is always on my mind because I’ve been pushed to the limit throughout my life.

It’s not a perfect scale because our perception of suffering is very subjective.  The key idea on which I’m focused is how much our suffering makes us think.  The more we think about it, the more we can grow.  If we don’t, then our suffering will only lead to resentment.

Today is the third in a four-part series on Reversal of Expectations.  The message today is that suffering is an opportunity.  I don’t mean to offer cold comfort to you if you’re really struggling, but suffering can lead to good things.  I know a young man whose brother was born blind and who saw lots of people die when he was a child.  I told him that, in my opinion, this is probably a reason why he’s spiritually more mature than most people his age.

We won’t consider the question of why God allows suffering, because we’ve done so a few times already.  For now, let’s meditate on the five sentences spoken in the Gospel, each of which helps us see our suffering as an opportunity.

1) “When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’  And leaving the crowd behind, they took Jesus with them in the boat, just as he was.  Other boats were with him” (Mk 4:35).  Jesus instructs the disciples to head across the lake to the eastern shore, which is Gentile territory, because He wants to share the Gospel with them, and that’ll be the first time the disciples go there.  So, the words, ‘Let us go across to the other side,’ are symbolic of how He tries to mature us.  The suffering we’re going through right now is allowed by Jesus to help us grow!

For example, those of you who are young know that your generation struggles with so much anxiety, partially because, through no fault of your own, you’ve been the most protected generation.  The solution is not to avoid suffering which leads to your anxiety.  The solution is: Every time you suffer, you build strength and resiliency!  Don’t let your parents do everything for you (cook, clean, drive you around), otherwise, you become weak and dependent.

One great purpose of suffering is that it builds heaven on the inside.  We’re all normally happy if life is good, but that means if people are mean to us and we get sick, our happiness is gone.  Nevertheless, some people, because they’re so full of Jesus’ love, have heaven on the inside: When people are mean to them and when they get sick, they still love, so heaven is here [the heart], and nothing can take it from them.  This is the ‘other side’ to which Jesus wants to lead us.

2) “A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.  But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’” (4:37-38).  Their words are not a question but an accusation.  Accusing Jesus of not caring is “one of the most… destructive thoughts that can cross our minds” (Daniel Mueggenborg, Come Follow Me, Year B, 192).  It’s okay to ask Jesus why we’re suffering, but don’t doubt His love for you.

A few weeks ago, we showed a video of Kevin Chow after his baptism.  One of his main reflections was that he didn’t want to go to God all the time to ask for things, because he knew that there’s something wrong with seeing our relationship with God as a transaction: We follow His rules and He blesses us.  I have permission to mention that, during the COVID lockdowns, he would often come to the church to pray, and, when I saw him, I knew he was suffering.  Here’s the point: He did the right thing by going to Jesus without accusing Him or making a transaction.

In church architecture, the body of the church is called the nave, meaning boat (no joke), because it has an upside-down shape of a boat.

Jesus is here in the tabernacle and may seem asleep, but He’s in control.  Suffering is an opportunity to go to Jesus, without making a transaction.

3) “He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace!  Be still!’  Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm” (4:39).  Jesus has power over all the suffering and grants relief when the time is right, and when we know this, then we live with confidence and courage.

I read a story about a deacon who went to jail for crimes he didn’t commit.  Three times at various points, someone told him about Jesus’ words to St. Paul, “My grace is enough for you” (2 Cor 12:).  Before prison, he admitted that he only knew Jesus’ power intellectually.  Afterwards, he knew it experientially (Jeff Cavins & Matthew Pinto, Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer, 46).  Suffering is our opportunity to know Jesus’ power, so that we can live knowing that we’re cared for.

4) “Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you afraid?  Have you still no faith?’” (4:40).  One of the most painful things in life for parents is when our children don’t trust us.  Same for Jesus; when we don’t have faith in Him, we don’t trust Him.

If we love Jesus, suffering is our opportunity to give Him the greatest gift, to say, ‘I know You’re good.  I know You’ll take care of me.’

5) “And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” (4:41).  During the storm, the disciples call Jesus ‘Teacher,’ which is true, but it’s not sufficient.  It’s like calling our parents ‘Master’ or ‘Mistress’—it misses their fundamental identity.  In the same way, when people think of Jesus as just a teacher, it’s not enough.  He’s God.  We know this because He doesn’t ask God the Father to calm the storm but does it Himself because He, too, is God.

When we come out of suffering and see how Jesus has blessed us, hopefully we’ll know that He’s God and address Him as such.

Going back to our scale of how much suffering we’ve endured, those of us who have suffered much actually have more opportunities.  I haven’t suffered much, but enough that I’ve thought about it a lot.  I’ll just share briefly, because some people thought it would help you.  Early on as a child, I remember being deeply disappointed by friends, but that led me to Jesus.  I got beaten up in high school, but that led me to change my behaviour.  Jesus asked me to give up marriage, which felt like death, because all my personal dreams were over.  Yet, Jesus gave me something much, much better, Himself, and I experienced a resurrection—some of us have experienced this.  The peace is so good I wish all of us could go through that death experience!

I hope you reflect more on your suffering and what Jesus is trying to do in your life.  It’s the only way to get to the ‘other side.’  Suffering is an opportunity.