Finding Meaning in Suffering

In grieving the loss of innocence and encountering the metamorphosis (forced as it is), we can begin the search for meaning: we can find purpose for suffering.

We will need spiritual eyes and a willing heart to find it.  (Or, thankfully, we may gain our spiritual eyes and a willing heart while we are searching.) One way to do this is to try on new ways of thinking, or to try viewing our troubles from a different (eternal, perhaps?) perspective.

One ‘new’ mindset is expressed here: “The death of a dream can result in unrecognized grief and discouragement. Old illusions die hard. Viewing life as a challenging, evolving reality that requires parallel personal growth is a perspective that is at odds with many of our simplistic and immature fantasies.”- Dr. Harold Cohen

Personal growth? Immature fantasies?  Ouch.  Is this what they call “adulting”? I don’t think I signed up for such things!  Nevertheless, recovering from the pain that life has to offer calls us to a deeper awareness. Pain calls us outside of ourselves and into a greater presence, a more authentic existence.

If we believe that suffering serves a purpose greater than the pain, we may be able to transition into the stage of acceptance.  Yes, eventually.
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Read 1 Cor. 3: 1-7 – for more on comfort in suffering.
See also Acceptance and Freedom (blog post)
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