pouring our suffering into Jesus's

Lewis talks about suffering today in A Year with C.S. Lewis.

And what He says is so painfully true. When you suffer, it's hard to think of anything else. 

Whether you suffer because your loved one died, or because your body hurts, or because you face a huge challenge that rocks your world... It's hard to take your mind off of it. And so you suffer twice. Once from the suffering itself, and once in the pondering or contemplation of your suffering.

But allow me, if you don't mind, to share a concept with you. It's not a simple one. It's about Jesus, and His suffering, and how we can somehow, in a very real way, link or combine our suffering with His. For our suffering to become one with His.

Here is an article where you can read about this idea, including the biblical basis for it.

I've found that when I share my suffering with Him, it changes. For one thing, suffering is never as bad when someone suffers with you...When you're not alone. And Jesus sharing it with you makes you less alone than ever in your life.

Two, He often just takes the pain away. Sometimes He does it supernaturally...my pain just vanishes. But usually He uses a secondary means...He has me drink some water, or drink some aloe Vera, or take a shower to relieve my headache, or take a nap to lose my fatigue... But He'll bring to mind what my body needs.

Third, He'll often send someone to cheer me along the way. This also relieves the pain, and helps me put it in perspective.

But in a very powerful, mystical, real way, our suffering can become one with His. This, in easy words, makes us better people. Suffering, paradoxically, is good for us. Especially when it's linked to His.

So the next time you suffer (and in charity I hope it'll be awhile), offer it to Him. Ask Him to make it part of His suffering. You don't have to understand how it works for it to work, just like you don't have to understand nutrition for food to make you healthy. You might be surprised what happens.

God, thank You for turning the enemy's weapon (suffering and pain) against him, and making us better people through the redemption of suffering.